ATLS 10th Ed. Triage Scenarios Appendix F: Patients A-F
Actual Exam 2026/2027 – Complete Solutions with Detailed
Rationales | 100% Verified | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Section A: Mass Casualty Triage Fundamentals & Principles (8
Questions)
Q1: The fundamental principle guiding all mass casualty incident (MCI) triage decisions
is:
A. Providing comprehensive trauma evaluation for every patient
B. Doing the greatest good for the greatest number [CORRECT]
C. Treating the most severely injured patients first regardless of survivability
D. Ensuring every patient receives identical resources
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: MCI triage prioritizes population outcomes over individual care. The goal is to
save the maximum number of lives with limited resources. Comprehensive individual
evaluation and equal resource distribution are not feasible in MCIs, and treating
unsurvivable injuries first wastes resources.
Q2: In the START triage system, a patient who is ambulatory, has a respiratory rate
<30/min, and has no uncontrolled hemorrhage is categorized as:
A. Red (Immediate)
,B. Yellow (Delayed)
C. Green (Minor) [CORRECT]
D. Black (Expectant)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: START triage categorizes ambulatory patients who can follow commands
and have no immediate life threats as Green (Minor/Walking Wounded). Red requires
immediate intervention (airway compromise, respiratory failure, uncontrolled bleeding),
Yellow is delayed but serious, and Black is expectant/deceased.
Q3: The SALT triage algorithm stands for:
A. Survey, Assess, Locate, Treat
B. Sort, Assess, Lifesaving Interventions, Treatment/Triage [CORRECT]
C. Scan, Airway, Locate, Transport
D. Safety, Assessment, Logistics, Triage
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SALT = Sort (global sorting), Assess (individual assessment), Lifesaving
Interventions (control bleeding, open airway, chest decompression), Treatment/Triage
(assign category). It is a comprehensive mass casualty triage framework endorsed for
use in MCIs.
Q4: A patient in an MCI has no spontaneous respirations after airway opening.
According to START triage, this patient is categorized as:
, A. Red (Immediate)
B. Yellow (Delayed)
C. Green (Minor)
D. Black (Expectant) [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In START triage, patients who do not breathe spontaneously after airway
maneuver are classified as Black (Expectant/Deceased) in a mass casualty setting
because resuscitation would consume disproportionate resources with low survival
probability. This differs from individual trauma care.
Q5: The primary difference between standard trauma assessment and MCI triage
assessment is that MCI triage emphasizes:
A. Comprehensive head-to-toe examination for every patient
B. Rapid survey and category assignment rather than detailed evaluation [CORRECT]
C. Immediate CT imaging for all patients
D. Prolonged airway management on each patient regardless of resources
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Standard trauma care involves detailed primary and secondary surveys. MCI
triage requires rapid (30–60 second) assessments to categorize patients and move
resources efficiently. Detailed exams and prolonged interventions on individual patients
delay care for others.
Actual Exam 2026/2027 – Complete Solutions with Detailed
Rationales | 100% Verified | Pass Guaranteed – A+ Graded
Section A: Mass Casualty Triage Fundamentals & Principles (8
Questions)
Q1: The fundamental principle guiding all mass casualty incident (MCI) triage decisions
is:
A. Providing comprehensive trauma evaluation for every patient
B. Doing the greatest good for the greatest number [CORRECT]
C. Treating the most severely injured patients first regardless of survivability
D. Ensuring every patient receives identical resources
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: MCI triage prioritizes population outcomes over individual care. The goal is to
save the maximum number of lives with limited resources. Comprehensive individual
evaluation and equal resource distribution are not feasible in MCIs, and treating
unsurvivable injuries first wastes resources.
Q2: In the START triage system, a patient who is ambulatory, has a respiratory rate
<30/min, and has no uncontrolled hemorrhage is categorized as:
A. Red (Immediate)
,B. Yellow (Delayed)
C. Green (Minor) [CORRECT]
D. Black (Expectant)
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: START triage categorizes ambulatory patients who can follow commands
and have no immediate life threats as Green (Minor/Walking Wounded). Red requires
immediate intervention (airway compromise, respiratory failure, uncontrolled bleeding),
Yellow is delayed but serious, and Black is expectant/deceased.
Q3: The SALT triage algorithm stands for:
A. Survey, Assess, Locate, Treat
B. Sort, Assess, Lifesaving Interventions, Treatment/Triage [CORRECT]
C. Scan, Airway, Locate, Transport
D. Safety, Assessment, Logistics, Triage
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SALT = Sort (global sorting), Assess (individual assessment), Lifesaving
Interventions (control bleeding, open airway, chest decompression), Treatment/Triage
(assign category). It is a comprehensive mass casualty triage framework endorsed for
use in MCIs.
Q4: A patient in an MCI has no spontaneous respirations after airway opening.
According to START triage, this patient is categorized as:
, A. Red (Immediate)
B. Yellow (Delayed)
C. Green (Minor)
D. Black (Expectant) [CORRECT]
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In START triage, patients who do not breathe spontaneously after airway
maneuver are classified as Black (Expectant/Deceased) in a mass casualty setting
because resuscitation would consume disproportionate resources with low survival
probability. This differs from individual trauma care.
Q5: The primary difference between standard trauma assessment and MCI triage
assessment is that MCI triage emphasizes:
A. Comprehensive head-to-toe examination for every patient
B. Rapid survey and category assignment rather than detailed evaluation [CORRECT]
C. Immediate CT imaging for all patients
D. Prolonged airway management on each patient regardless of resources
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Standard trauma care involves detailed primary and secondary surveys. MCI
triage requires rapid (30–60 second) assessments to categorize patients and move
resources efficiently. Detailed exams and prolonged interventions on individual patients
delay care for others.
