ATLS Triage and Mass Casualty Incidents 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In the SALT triage method, what does the acronym SALT stand for?
- Sort, Assess, Lifesaving Interventions, Treatment/Transport (Correct answer)
- Stabilize, Airway, Lifesaving, Transport
- Scene, Airway, Level of consciousness, Triage
- Sort, Assess, Load, Transfer
Correct answer: Sort, Assess, Lifesaving Interventions, Treatment/Transport
SALT (Sort, Assess, Lifesaving Interventions, Treatment/Transport) is a CDC-endorsed MCI triage method that integrates immediate lifesaving interventions during individual assessment.
Question 2: Which immediate intervention is permitted during SALT triage individual assessment before assigning a category?
- Control of major hemorrhage and airway positioning (Correct answer)
- Intubation and mechanical ventilation
- IV fluid resuscitation
- Chest tube insertion
Correct answer: Control of major hemorrhage and airway positioning
SALT triage allows hemorrhage control and airway positioning as immediate lifesaving interventions during the brief assessment phase before assigning a triage category.
Question 3: During a chemical mass casualty event, what is the first priority before treating contaminated patients in the emergency department?
- Decontamination of patients before they enter the facility (Correct answer)
- Administering antidotes immediately upon arrival
- Intubating all symptomatic patients
- Drawing blood for toxicology before any intervention
Correct answer: Decontamination of patients before they enter the facility
Secondary contamination of healthcare workers is a critical risk; decontamination must occur outside the facility before patients enter to protect staff and prevent facility shutdown.
Question 4: In a hospital MCI response, what is the role of the Incident Command System (ICS)?
- Provide a standardized organizational structure with unified command to coordinate all emergency response functions (Correct answer)
- Direct clinical care at the bedside
- Coordinate media communications only
- Replace the normal chain of hospital command permanently
Correct answer: Provide a standardized organizational structure with unified command to coordinate all emergency response functions
ICS provides a scalable, modular command structure that integrates multiple agencies and departments under unified command, preventing communication failures during complex MCIs.
Question 5: A Yellow (Delayed) triage tag in START is appropriate for a patient who meets which criteria?
- Respirations 10–29/min, radial pulse present, and able to follow commands — injuries serious but not immediately life-threatening (Correct answer)
- No respirations after airway opening
- Respiratory rate greater than 30/min
- Ambulatory with minor wounds
Correct answer: Respirations 10–29/min, radial pulse present, and able to follow commands — injuries serious but not immediately life-threatening
Yellow (Delayed) indicates the patient is physiologically stable enough to tolerate a delay in definitive treatment without immediate risk of death.
Question 6: When should a patient's triage category be reassigned during an MCI?
- Whenever a patient's clinical condition changes, as triage is a continuous and dynamic process (Correct answer)
- Only at the time of transport
- Only by the medical director
- Triage tags are never changed once assigned
Correct answer: Whenever a patient's clinical condition changes, as triage is a continuous and dynamic process
Triage is dynamic; patients can deteriorate (upgrade to Red) or improve (downgrade to Yellow/Green), and repeated assessment is essential to accurately allocate changing resources.
ATLS Triage and Mass Casualty Incidents 2
In the SALT triage method, what does the acronym SALT stand for?