Heat illness triage — DipIMC MCQ
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Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.
Reveal the answer and explanation
Correct answer: D — P1 / immediate
Explanation lettering: C = shown as A · E = shown as B · A = shown as C · B = shown as E
D is correct: Exertional heat stroke is time-critical and takes priority over uncomplicated heat cramps. A is less suitable because P3 is for delayed casualties, usually walking or physiologically stable; B is less suitable because the patient has clinically significant illness or injury; C is less suitable because P2 is urgent but not the best category for the physiology described; E is less suitable because the stem does not describe persistent apnoea or injuries incompatible with life. 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 Special Circumstances; ATACC