Mass Disaster Management — MCQs

Question 11: In disaster management triage, under which color category are patients who require surgery within 24 hours placed?

• A. Red
• B. Blue (Correct Answer)
• C. Green
• D. Black

Explanation: In disaster management, triage is the process of prioritizing patients based on the severity of their condition and the likelihood of survival with available resources. **Explanation of the Correct Answer:** The **Blue Category** (sometimes referred to as the "Urgent" or "Medium Priority" category in specific triage systems like the WHO or certain military protocols) is used for patients who require major medical attention or surgery, but whose condition is stable enough to wait for a short period. Specifically, these patients require surgical intervention within **24 hours**. They are stable for the moment but will deteriorate if not treated within this window. **Explanation of Incorrect Options:** * **Red (Immediate):** These are high-priority patients with life-threatening injuries (e.g., airway obstruction, tension pneumothorax, or massive external hemorrhage) who require immediate intervention within the **"Golden Hour"** to survive. * **Green (Ambulatory):** Known as the "walking wounded," these patients have minor injuries (e.g., simple fractures, minor lacerations) and can wait for more than 24 hours or self-treat. * **Black (Dead/Moribund):** This category is for those who are already deceased or have injuries so severe (e.g., 90% full-thickness burns, open brain injury) that survival is unlikely even with maximal care in a resource-limited disaster setting. **High-Yield Clinical Pearls for NEET-PG:** * **Triage Tagging:** Red (Priority I), Blue/Yellow (Priority II), Green (Priority III), Black (Priority 0). * **START Protocol:** Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment is the most common algorithm used, focusing on "RPM" (Respiration, Perfusion, and Mental Status). * **Reverse Triage:** In military settings or specific mass casualty incidents, those with minor injuries may be treated first to return them to the front lines or to assist in rescue efforts. * **Yellow vs. Blue:** While many textbooks use **Yellow** for the 24-hour category, certain forensic and international disaster protocols use **Blue** interchangeably or specifically for "Urgent" cases requiring surgery. Always follow the specific color-coding provided in the question's options.