Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I decide who to help first in a mass casualty situation?

A: Use START triage. Help RED (immediate) patients first—those with life-threatening but treatable conditions. GREEN (walking wounded) can help each other. This saves the most lives.

Q: What if I have to choose between two critically injured people?

A: Choose the one most likely to survive with immediate intervention. Consider age, injury severity, and available resources. These are terrible decisions but necessary in MCIs.

Q: Should children get priority in triage?

A: No. Triage is based on survivability, not age. However, children often have better recovery potential if they survive initial treatment. Use JumpSTART for pediatric assessment.

Q: What if there are more BLACK tags than seems right?

A: In MCIs, patients who would survive with unlimited resources may be tagged BLACK due to resource scarcity. This is emotionally difficult but necessary for saving the most lives.

Q: How do I handle family members who want preferential treatment?

A: Explain triage principles calmly. Assign them helpful tasks. Have security or crowd control if available. Maintain fair, systematic approach despite emotional pressure.

Q: When should I stop doing CPR in a disaster?

A: In MCIs, prolonged CPR on one person prevents helping many others. If no response after 2-3 minutes, move to next patient. This differs drastically from normal situations.

Q: What if professional help doesn't arrive for days?

A: Establish sustainable systems: rotate helpers, ration supplies, maintain sanitation, prevent disease, document everything, establish communication methods, plan for extended care.

Q: How do I maintain infection control with limited supplies?

A: Prioritize hand hygiene, use barriers even if improvised, isolate infectious patients, maintain clean water supplies, proper waste disposal. Prevention is crucial when treatment limited.

Q: Should I attempt advanced procedures I've seen but not trained for?

A: Generally no. Stick to your training level. However, in true life-or-death situations with no other options, you may need to attempt procedures under guidance (phone/radio) from medical professionals.

Q: How do I deal with the emotional trauma of making triage decisions?

A: Expect psychological impact. Seek counseling afterward. Remember you saved lives by making hard choices. Connect with others who understand. Professional help is not weakness.

> Final Quick Reference Box: > MCI Response - Remember DISASTER: > - Detect scene safety > - Incident command establishment > - START triage immediately > - Assign bystander teams > - Sector organization > - Treatment areas setup > - Evacuation coordination > - Record everything possible

Final Critical Message:

Mass casualty incidents demand a fundamental shift from individual patient care to population-based decisions. Your ability to rapidly triage, organize bystanders, improvise resources, and maintain systematic care can save dozens of lives. While these situations require difficult decisions, remember that your actions—guided by established principles—provide the greatest good for the greatest number. Preparation, training, and mental rehearsal before disasters strike make you exponentially more effective when seconds count and lives hang in the balance. In humanity's darkest moments, trained citizens who step forward with knowledge and composure become beacons of hope and survival.