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Mass casualty triage — RCPSC EM MCQ

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HardTraumaMass casualty triageRCPSC EM

A 19-year-old has multiple casualties arriving after a bus crash. One patient is walking with a forearm laceration, one is apnoeic after airway repositioning fails, one has RR 34 with radial pulse present, and one obeys commands with capillary refill 1 second. What is the most appropriate next step?

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Correct answer: A — Use disaster triage principles to prioritise the tachypnoeic breathing patient for immediate treatment

In mass casualty triage, scarce resources are directed to patients likely to benefit rapidly; apnoea despite airway repositioning is expectant in many triage systems, while marked tachypnoea is immediate.

Reference: Royal College EM EPAs 2024 disaster medicine; Canadian disaster triage principles