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Pediatric Triage Tape

This is going to be a subheading in a triage page

This is a waterproof tape that cannot be torn and it is compatible with all existing triage systems. The pediatric triage tape is used to determine the priority of children. This is a similar form for the adult triage sieve. Triage is consisted of ranking people in the time of a disaster by varying degrees of severity. The word triage comes from the french military, meaning to “sort.’’ This tape can be used for four types of measurements; 50–80 cm, 80–100 cm, 100–140 cm and greater than 140 cm. Assessing mobility is first on the list. A green degree is where all limbs are able to move and the child is alert and they can walk. A child labeled green is a delayed priority.

If a child cannot walk, the tape goes alongside the child’s entire body from heel to head. Where the tape touches the child’s heel determines which of the three triage algorithms to follow, red, green or yellow. If the tape falls in between two sections, the longer measurement is used. A red degree is used for children who are trapped or have limited access. A child labeled red is an immediate priority.

Breathing rate is assessed by counting the child’s respiratory rate for 15 seconds. An abnormally slow or abnormally fast rate is prioritized as red. If the pulse is adequate for the child, circulation is then assessed by performing a capillary refill test. If the test takes less than two seconds, the child is labeled yellow for urgent. If it takes longer than two seconds the pulse is taken. That would be necessary to make sure the capillary refill tests is not prolonged by a fever.

The paediatric triage tape relates the child’s length to changes in normal physiological values. This tape helps decrease the desire to treat all children as if they are all top priorities, the tape ranks them into three sections (T. Hodgetts, J. Hall, I. Maconochie, C. Smart).