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CO exposure confused casualty — DipIMC MCQ

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ModerateEnvironmental MedicineCO exposure confused casualtyDipIMC

Several people self-evacuate from a house with carbon monoxide exposure. One adult is confused and unable to walk, with respiratory rate 18/min and pulse 104/min. What is the triage category?

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

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Correct answer: BPriority 1 (red)

Option B is correct because Confusion and inability to walk after toxic exposure indicate high acuity requiring immediate attention. Option D is less appropriate because Priority 2 is for serious injury without immediate life-saving criteria; option C is less appropriate because Priority 3 is for walking wounded or minor casualties with stable physiology. Option E is less appropriate because expectant triage is used in exceptional resource-limited circumstances; option A is less appropriate because the stem does not meet criteria for death assignment. Clinical pearl: in DipIMC-style questions, the best answer is the intervention that changes outcome earliest in the pre-hospital phase.

Reference: MIMMS; NHS Major Incident Triage Tool