Triage dead category — DipIMC MCQ

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EasyMajor Incident ManagementTriage dead categoryDipIMC

At a multi-casualty road incident, an adult casualty is not breathing. After opening the airway there is still no breathing and no signs of life. What is the triage category?

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Correct answer: A — Dead

Dead is the best answer because absence of breathing after simple airway opening in primary triage places the casualty in the dead category. Untriaged is less appropriate because leaving the casualty untriaged undermines casualty flow and command; Priority 3 is less appropriate because Priority 3 indicates delayed care for walking or stable casualties. Priority 2 and Priority 1 are also suboptimal because they move attention away from the key pre-hospital priority.. The key DipIMC principle is to treat immediate reversible threats, communicate clearly and move the patient toward the right definitive care.

Reference: MIMMS Major Incident Medical Management and Support; NHS England Major Incident Triage Tool