When a disaster occurs and mass casualties are transported to an emergency department, a system is needed to identify patients who require only minimal care and those likely to die even with maximal efforts.
Minimally injured patients (usually the largest number of victims) 
- Place in a separate location outside the emergency department.
- Treat and discharge patients from this area.
Seriously injured but potentially salvageable patients
- Place these patients in an area near the surgical team.
- Assure that a trauma surgeon remains in this area.
Critically injured patients with minimal chance of survival
- Place these patients in a supportive care area.
- Provide sedation and analgesia.
- Refrain from resuscitation efforts.