Which triage tag indicates the lowest priority for care at a multiple-causality incident?

Which triage tag indicates the lowest priority for care at a multiple-causality incident?

• A. Red tag
• B. Yellow tag
• C. Black/gray tag
• D. Green tag

Answer: (C)

In a multiple-causality incident, the triage tag that indicates the lowest priority for care is the black or gray tag. This tag is typically assigned to patients who are not expected to survive their injuries given the level of care available or who are already deceased. The purpose of triage is to maximize the number of survivors by prioritizing those who can benefit most from immediate care. In contrast, other tags denote different levels of urgency: a red tag indicates immediate care is needed, a yellow tag signifies that the person is injured but can wait for treatment, and a green tag represents minor injuries that can tolerate a delay in care. Therefore, the black or gray tag clearly conveys that the individual is the lowest priority in the context of resource allocation during a mass casualty situation.

In a multiple-causality incident, the triage tag that indicates the lowest priority for care is the black or gray tag. This tag is typically assigned to patients who are not expected to survive their injuries given the level of care available or who are already deceased. The purpose of triage is to maximize the number of survivors by prioritizing those who can benefit most from immediate care.

In contrast, other tags denote different levels of urgency: a red tag indicates immediate care is needed, a yellow tag signifies that the person is injured but can wait for treatment, and a green tag represents minor injuries that can tolerate a delay in care. Therefore, the black or gray tag clearly conveys that the individual is the lowest priority in the context of resource allocation during a mass casualty situation.