Mass casualties and triage at a sporting event.

Abstract

When a sports medicine doctor provides coverage for a sporting event with a large number of athletes and spectators, he or she should always be aware that the potential for a large number of injuries exists. In the event of a mass casualty incident that overwhelms the available medical resources, he or she may be the most qualified professional present to triage and organise patient care. Certain basic rules of triage in a disaster situation should be followed, the goal being to save as many lives as possible. Special circumstances, such as crush injuries, lightning strikes, and blast injuries, may affect the triage and initial care of injured patients.