Chemical release walking casualty — DipIMC MCQ

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ModerateScene Safety, Medicolegal and CommunicationChemical release walking casualtyDipIMC

At a factory chemical release, a decontaminated adult can walk to the casualty clearing area. They are coughing mildly but have RR 18, pulse 88 and normal mental status. No burns or eye injury are found after disrobe and rinse. What is the triage category?

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Correct answer: B — Priority 3 (green)

Option B is correct because A walking casualty with stable observations after initial decontamination is usually Priority 3 at triage. Priority 2 would be considered for non-ambulant or more significantly symptomatic patients, while Priority 1 is reserved for immediate life-threatening physiology. Chemical incidents still require observation because symptoms can evolve after exposure. Option C is less appropriate because Priority 1 is reserved for immediate life-saving needs or severe physiological compromise; option E is less appropriate because Priority 2 is for serious injury without immediate life-saving criteria. Option D 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 England Major Incident Triage Tool