Triage and Mass Casualty Incidents Flashcards

In the START triage system, what is the first action taken upon arriving at a multiple-casualty scene?

Answer: Direct patients who can walk to move to a designated area

START triage begins by directing ambulatory patients to walk to a designated area, quickly categorizing them as 'minor' and freeing rescuers to assess more critical patients.

According to START triage, a patient with a respiratory rate greater than 30 breaths per minute should be tagged:

Answer: Immediate (red)

In START triage, a respiratory rate above 30/min indicates a critical patient who requires immediate intervention and is tagged red.

In START triage, which finding would result in an 'immediate' (red) tag based on circulatory assessment?

Answer: Absent radial pulse

An absent radial pulse indicates poor perfusion consistent with shock, classifying the patient as immediate (red) in START triage.

What color tag is used for 'expectant' patients in the standard triage color system?

Answer: Black

Black tags indicate expectant patients — those whose injuries are so severe that survival is unlikely even with treatment, or who are already deceased.

SALT triage stands for:

Answer: Sort, Assess, Life-saving interventions, Treatment/transport

SALT stands for Sort, Assess, Life-saving interventions, Treatment/transport — an evidence-based MCI triage system endorsed for use in the US.

During a mass casualty incident, which patients receive the highest priority for treatment and transport?

Answer: Immediate patients

Immediate (red tag) patients have life-threatening but survivable injuries and receive the highest priority for treatment and transport to definitive care.

In START triage, failure to follow simple commands after airway and circulatory assessment indicates the patient should be classified as:

Answer: Immediate (red)

Failure to follow simple commands indicates altered mental status, which classifies the patient as immediate (red) in the START algorithm.