ATLS Triage and Mass Casualty Incidents

Question 1

In the START triage system, what is the first assessment step performed?

Accepted Answer

Instruct all ambulatory patients to move to a designated area, tagging them as Minor (Green)

Answer

The first step in START triage is to call out for ambulatory patients to walk to a designated area, immediately categorizing them as Minor (Green) and clearing the scene for more critical assessment.

Question 2

In START triage, a patient has absent respirations. You reposition the airway and respirations resume at 22 breaths per minute. What color tag is assigned?

Accepted Answer

Red (Immediate)

Answer

When respirations return after simple airway repositioning, the patient is tagged Red (Immediate) because they require a basic airway maneuver to survive.

Question 3

Under the START triage system, which respiratory rate threshold triggers a Red (Immediate) tag without further assessment?

Accepted Answer

Greater than 30 breaths per minute

Answer

In START triage, a respiratory rate greater than 30/min indicates physiologic compromise and automatically assigns a Red (Immediate) tag.

Question 4

During a mass casualty incident (MCI), a Black tag is assigned to which category of patient?

Accepted Answer

Patients who are deceased or have injuries incompatible with survival given available resources

Answer

Black tagging in MCI triage identifies patients who are dead or whose injuries are so severe that survival is unlikely even with maximal intervention, preserving resources for salvageable patients.

Question 5

In a mass casualty event, which principle best describes the goal of triage?

Accepted Answer

Do the greatest good for the greatest number of patients

Answer

MCI triage follows utilitarian principles: allocating limited resources to maximize the number of survivors, which may mean bypassing the most critically injured if survival odds are minimal.

ATLS - Advanced Trauma Life Support Practice Test

ATLS - Advanced Trauma Life Support Practice Test

ATLS Triage and Mass Casualty Incidents