What is the main goal of triage during a mass casualty incident?

The primary objective of triage during a mass casualty incident is to efficiently allocate medical resources to those patients who are in the most critical condition and require immediate attention. In such scenarios, the number of injured individuals often exceeds the available medical personnel and resources. Therefore, triage serves as a system to categorize patients based on the severity of their injuries, ensuring that those who are most at risk of death or serious complications receive care first.

This process involves assessing the vital signs and injury severity of victims and prioritizing treatment based on their needs, which aims to maximize survival rates and optimize the use of limited resources. By focusing on the most critically injured, responders can mitigate overall morbidity and mortality, which is the essence of effective emergency management during mass casualty situations.