Which of the following colour code is used for emergent cases in triage system?

Appeared in: NORCET 3 - 2022 (Shift-2)

Explanation

The Red tag is used for the 'Immediate' or 'Emergent' category in mass casualty triage.
This category includes victims with life-threatening injuries, such as compromises to their airway, breathing, or circulation (ABCs).
These patients have a high chance of survival but only if they receive immediate medical intervention, making them the highest priority for treatment and transport.

Option B: The Blue tag is not a standard color in most pre-hospital mass casualty triage systems.
Option C: The Green tag is for the 'Minor' category, often called the 'walking wounded'.
Option D: The Black tag is for the 'Expectant' or 'Deceased' category.

Visual 1: Infographic: A chart showing the four main triage colors (Red, Yellow, Green, Black), the corresponding category name (e.g., Immediate, Delayed), and examples of patient injuries for each category.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Triage color coding system in mass casualty incidents as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Rapid and accurate triage during a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) is a critical nursing skill that ensures limited resources are used to save the maximum number of lives.
Nurses must be able to quickly assess patients using systems like START (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment) to assign the correct color tag and prioritize care effectively.
What if? If a patient with an open femur fracture but stable vitals and no active hemorrhage is tagged Red instead of Yellow, it could divert immediate resources from a patient with an airway obstruction who truly needs them, potentially leading to a preventable death.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question about standard emergency protocols.
Identify the key terms in the question: 'triage system', 'emergent cases', and 'colour code'.
Recall the standard color-coding system used in mass casualty triage (e.g., START).
Associate the term 'emergent' or 'immediate' with the highest priority color for living patients requiring urgent care.
Evaluate the options: Red is for immediate/emergent cases. Green is for minor injuries. Black is for deceased/expectant. Blue is not a standard triage tag.
Select Red as the correct answer for emergent cases.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full NORCET 3 - 2022 (Shift-2)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.