CEP Mass Casualty Incidents & Disaster Response Flashcards

In the START triage system, what is the first step after opening the airway of an apneic patient?

Answer: Tag as DECEASED/EXPECTANT

In START triage, if a patient remains apneic after a single airway repositioning attempt, they are tagged DECEASED/EXPECTANT (black) and the responder moves on.

Which of the following correctly describes the IMMEDIATE (RED) category in the START triage system?

Answer: Respirations > 30/min OR no radial pulse OR unresponsive to commands

RED/IMMEDIATE patients have respirations > 30/min, absent radial pulse, or inability to follow simple commands, indicating life-threatening but salvageable injuries.

What is the recommended command structure at a mass casualty incident (MCI)?

Answer: Incident Command System (ICS)

The Incident Command System (ICS) is the standardized management structure used at all MCIs to coordinate multi-agency response.

In a CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) event, what is the primary goal of the HOT zone?

Answer: Source control and initial rescue only

The HOT zone is the area of immediate danger where only source control and rapid rescue are performed — no treatment occurs there.

What does the acronym METHANE stand for in MCI reporting?

Answer: Major incident, Exact location, Type, Hazards, Access, Number of casualties, Emergency services required

METHANE is the standardized MCI report format: Major incident declared, Exact location, Type of incident, Hazards, Access and egress, Number of casualties, Emergency services required.

During a hazmat incident, decontamination should occur in which zone?

Answer: WARM zone (decon corridor)

Decontamination is performed in the WARM zone (also called the contamination reduction zone) using a decon corridor before victims enter the COLD zone.