Major Incident Triage; Roadside to Resus

Major incident triage in the UK is undergoing a significant transformation with the implementation of the Ten Second Triage (TST) and Major Incident Triage (MIT) tools. These systems replace legacy methodologies like the triage sieve and sort, aiming to reduce cognitive load during high-pressure events. TST, designed for all emergency responders, utilizes a simple, non-physiological approach to rapidly identify life-saving needs and prioritize casualties. Phil Cowburn, a consultant in emergency medicine and pre-hospital care who helped develop these tools, emphasizes that TST acts as a force multiplier by enabling non-clinical responders to perform initial triage. While TST focuses on speed and immediate interventions, MIT provides a more nuanced clinical assessment for healthcare professionals when resources remain constrained. This shift standardizes multi-agency response, improves situational awareness, and provides a clearer, evidence-based framework for managing mass-casualty incidents.