What is the goal of the first action in sorting during SALT triage?

The goal of the first action in sorting during SALT triage is to group ambulatory patients. SALT triage, which stands for Sort, Assess, Lifesaving interventions, and Transport, is a method designed to quickly categorize patients in a mass casualty incident based on the severity of their injuries and their immediate needs.

When first encountering a scene with multiple victims, identifying and grouping ambulatory patients is crucial because it allows responders to efficiently manage resources. These patients are typically able to walk or move, indicating that they may not have life-threatening injuries and can be directed to a safe location or treated in a manner that doesn’t require immediate intervention. By separating these individuals early in the triage process, responders can focus on more critically injured patients who are in greater need of urgent care.

This grouping also serves a logistical purpose; it helps streamline subsequent assessment processes and ensures that those who are potentially under threat can be attended to effectively without delay.