Pharmapedia Pro
Back to Ward Guide
Clinical Triage

Clinical Triage — Severity Assessment

Triage is the process of determining the priority of patients' treatments based on the severity of their condition.

The RED / YELLOW / GREEN System

🟥 RED — Immediate (Emergency)

Life-threatening conditions requiring immediate medical attention:

  • Cardiac arrest or respiratory arrest
  • Severe respiratory distress (RR <10 or >30, SpO2 <90%)
  • Shock (hypotension, tachycardia, poor perfusion)
  • Unconscious patient (GCS <9)
  • Ongoing seizures
  • Severe haemorrhage
  • Anaphylaxis
  • Acute stroke with symptoms <4.5 hours

    • 🟨 YELLOW — Urgent

    Serious conditions requiring prompt attention (within 10-30 minutes):

  • High fever (>39°C) in at-risk patients
  • Moderate respiratory distress
  • Chest pain — suspected ACS
  • Acute abdomen
  • Head injury with brief loss of consciousness
  • Severe headache
  • Uncontrolled hypertension (BP >180/110)
  • Active vomiting or diarrhoea with dehydration
  • Altered mental status

    • 🟢 GREEN — Non-Urgent (Routine)

    Stable conditions that can wait:

  • Mild fever (<38.5°C)
  • Minor injuries and lacerations
  • Routine follow-ups
  • Mild diarrhoea without dehydration
  • Minor skin rashes
  • Prescription refills
  • Common cold symptoms

    • General Triage Principles

  • Reassess waiting patients regularly — conditions can deteriorate
  • Use a triage tool consistently (Manchester Triage System, CTAS, etc.)
  • Document triage assessment and time
  • Activate emergency response for RED patients immediately
  • Move patients to appropriate treatment areas based on triage category