Reduced consciousness with normal glucose — DipIMC MCQ

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HardMedical EmergenciesReduced consciousness with normal glucoseDipIMC

At a festival, a 24-year-old is found unconscious with respiratory rate 10, normal glucose and no traumatic injury. He groans to pain and has vomit on his clothing. What is the triage category?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: A — P1 / immediate

Explanation lettering: B = shown as A · C = shown as B · A = shown as C · E = shown as D · D = shown as E

B is correct: Reduced consciousness with airway and aspiration risk is an immediate priority during triage and evacuation. A is less suitable because P2 is urgent but not the best category for the physiology described; C is less suitable because the stem does not describe persistent apnoea or injuries incompatible with life; D is less suitable because P3 is for delayed casualties, usually walking or physiologically stable; E is less suitable because the patient has clinically significant illness or injury. The most tempting alternative is therefore suboptimal because it either delays the time-critical pre-hospital intervention or sends the patient to the wrong level of care. The key DipIMC principle is focused cABCDE decision-making with early pre-alert, triage or retrieval escalation when the scene physiology demands it.

Reference: JRCALC Guidelines; Resuscitation Council UK; NICE guidance where applicable