Question

The nurse working in a disaster area assesses an adult client who has partial-thickness burns on the lower legs, or approximately 10% of the lower body. Which color of triage tag should the nurse place on this client?

a. Black
b. Yellow
c. Red
d. Green

Answer 1

The appropriate triage tag color for an adult client with partial-thickness burns on about
`10%` of the lower body in a disaster area would be Yellow, indicating that the condition is urgent but treatment can be delayed.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse working in a disaster area needs to assess and assign a triage tag to an adult client who has partial-thickness burns on the lower legs, encompassing approximately
`10%` of the body. In a disaster triage situation, the triage categories are typically dictated by the severity and urgency of medical conditions. These categories typically include:

• Green: Minor injuries that are not life-threatening and can wait for treatment (walking wounded).
• Yellow: Urgent but not immediately life-threatening; treatment can be delayed.
• Red: Immediate life-threatening injuries that require prompt treatment.
• Black: Deceased or injuries so severe that survival is not likely even with immediate treatment.

In this scenario, the client with
`10%` partial-thickness burns would likely fall into the Yellow triage category since the burns are severe but not immediately life-threatening, meaning treatment is needed but can be delayed.