System and Method for Casualty Treatment and Evacuation in Response to an Emergency Situation

Abstract

A system and method for assisting casualties, categorizing survivors, and communicating pertinent casualty and survivor information to external emergency response teams during a crisis situation. A kit may be provided that comprises a variety of emergency medical supplies, instructional casualty treatment information, and a plurality of casualty placards. Able-bodied survivors with no medical training may use the kit and its contents to properly prioritize and provide basic emergency medical assistance to help reduce casualty mortality during a crisis situation. Instructions and method steps contained within each kit teach each user to first fortify a safe haven, attended to casualty bleeding issues, attend to casualty airway issues, place casualties in a recovery position while continually reassuring and reassessing the casualties, and finally notifying or otherwise communicating casualty number and status to emergency responders. Responders may utilize the casualty information to most appropriately formulate and implement their response strategy.

1 . A kit for treating casualties and communicating casualty information, comprising:
 one or more medical supplies;   one or more casualty placards, wherein said one or more casualty placards are removably attachable to a window surface for communicating said casualty information to emergency responders, said casualty information comprising casualty number and/or medical status; and   at least one container, wherein said one or more medical supplies and said one or more casualty placards are capable of being stored within said at least one container when not in use.   
     
     
         2 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said kit further comprises:
 at least one piece of instructional casualty treatment information, wherein said at least one piece of instructional casualty treatment information provides instructions on emergency medical procedures and/or use of said one or more medical supplies.   
     
     
         3 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one container further comprises at least one portable element selected from the group consisting of a handle, wheels, and a strap. 
     
     
         4 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one container is selected from the group consisting of a bag, a backpack, and a bin. 
     
     
         5 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more medical supplies are selected from the group consisting of shears, bandages, cling wrap, elastic wrap, one or more splints, emergency dressing, gauze, tape, and gloves. 
     
     
         6 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one piece of instructional casualty treatment information comprises a five step mnemonic L-E-A-R-N instructing one or more users to Lockdown and reinforce their immediate surroundings, prevent Exsanguination, clear breathing Airways, move unconscious casualties to a Recovery position, and Notify said emergency responders of the number and status of said casualties. 
     
     
         7 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more casualty placards comprise four casualty placards, wherein each of said four casualty placards represents one of four casualty classification categories. 
     
     
         8 . The kit of  claim 7 , wherein said four casualty classification categories comprise casualties needing immediate medical attention, casualties capable of receiving delayed medical attention, casualties having no injures to minimal injuries, and deceased casualties. 
     
     
         9 . The kit of  claim 8 , wherein said casualties needing immediate medical attention are designated on a red casualty placard, said casualties capable of receiving delayed medical attention are designated on a yellow casualty placard, said casualties having no injures to minimal injuries are designated on a green casualty placard, and said deceased casualties are designated on a black casualty placard. 
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more casualty placards are removably attachable to said window surface in a manner selected from the group consisting of tape, one or more suction cups, and adhesive. 
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of said one or more casualty placards further comprises an erasable surface. 
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more casualty placards comprises one casualty placard having four sections, wherein said four sections designate four casualty classification categories. 
     
     
         13 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein said four casualty classification categories comprise casualties needing immediate medical attention, casualties capable of receiving delayed medical attention, casualties having no injures to minimal injuries, and deceased casualties. 
     
     
         14 . The kit of  claim 13 , wherein said one casualty placard designates said casualties needing immediate medical attention by a red casualty section, said casualties capable of receiving delayed medical attention by a yellow casualty section, said casualties having no injures to minimal injuries by a green casualty placard, and said deceased casualties by a black casualty placard. 
     
     
         15 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein said one placard is removably attachable to said window surface in a manner selected from the group consisting of tape, one or more suction cups, and adhesive. 
     
     
         16 . The kit of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of said one casualty placard further comprises an erasable surface. 
     
     
         17 . A method for treating casualties and communicating casualty information, comprising the steps of:
 determining said casualty information, said casualty information comprising casualty number and/or medical status;   selecting one or more casualty placards designating said casualty information; and   removably applying said one or more casualty placards to a window surface for communicating said casualty information to emergency responders.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said one or more casualty placards comprise four casualty placards, wherein each of said four casualty placards represents one of four casualty classification categories. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said four casualty classification categories comprise casualties needing immediate medical attention, casualties capable of receiving delayed medical attention, casualties having no injures to minimal injuries, and deceased casualties. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein said casualties needing immediate medical attention are designated on a red casualty placard, said casualties capable of receiving delayed medical attention are designated on a yellow casualty placard, said casualties having no injures to minimal injuries are designated on a green casualty placard, and said deceased casualties are designated on a black casualty placard.