Mobile triage team in a community disaster plan.

Experience has shown poor predisaster planning, inadequate communication and the absence of an on-scene commander to be common and recurring problems during disaster rescue efforts. A mobile onscene triage team (MOTT) operating in Sacramento has demonstrated the following advantages: immediate access; mobility; coordinated evacuation, treatment, and disposition of mass casualty victims; control of facility overload, and appropriate initial disposition to definitive care facilities. The advantages realized with this approach arise from greater community awareness and participation in a coordinated plan for medical care in disasters.