The Ten Second Triage Tool - a multi-disciplinary simulation-based field test to determine its speed…

ObservationalScandinavian journal of trauma, resuscitation and emergency medicine· Mar 2026

The Ten Second Triage Tool - a multi-disciplinary simulation-based field test to determine its speed, accuracy and practical on scene application.

Claire Louise Park, James Vassallo, Philip Cowburn … Jason Edward Smith

Prehospital & RetrievalObservationalQ1IF 3.1

Ten Second Triage reduced time to lifesaving interventions compared with the Major Incident Triage Tool in simulated major incidents.

The Ten Second Triage Tool - a multi-disciplinary simulation-based field test to determine its speed, accuracy and practical on scene application.

Claire Louise Park … Jason Edward Smith

Scandinavian journal of trauma, resuscitation and emergency medicine · Mar 2026 · Q1 in Emergency Medicine

Background

Triage at major incidents has traditionally relied on assessing physiology, and in the UK, this role has usually been performed by healthcare responders.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to determine the performance characteristics of the Ten Second Triage, including the time to deliver life-saving interventions, in a simulated major incident setting, by both healthcare and non-healthcare responders.

Methods

A prospective observational study was conducted as part of a simulated major incident exercise, incorporating a variety of trauma pathologies.

Results

491

s

mean time to deliver key lifesaving interventions with Ten Second Triage, much faster than with Major Incident Triage Tool

More results

Using the Ten Second Triage alone, the mean overall triage time was 377 s (10.2 s per casualty).

In comparison, the mean overall triage time of the Major Incident Triage Tool alone was 1500 s (40.5 s per casualty).

More results

However, when the Major Incident Triage Tool was applied following the Ten Second Triage, it was completed more quickly, with a mean time of 960 s (25.9 s per casualty).

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Conclusion · 1 of 2

This simulation study demonstrated that the Ten Second Triage is a rapid and accurate early scene triage method that enables the timely delivery of key lifesaving interventions.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

It facilitates the administration of these life-saving interventions faster than existing physiological triage methods. These findings support the NHS England endorsement of the Ten Second Triage.

The Ten Second Triage Tool - a multi-disciplinary simulation-based field test to determine its speed, accuracy and practical on scene application.

The Ten Second Triage Tool - a multi-disciplinary simulation-based field test to determine its speed, accuracy and practical on scene application.

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