Which patient would be categorized as "delayed" in triage?

In the context of triage, a patient categorized as "delayed" is one who can wait for treatment without immediate risk to their life or health. This typically involves patients with stable conditions who are not in critical need of immediate medical attention. Such patients may need care soon, but their situation is not time-sensitive compared to those who have life-threatening conditions.

For instance, a patient who is stable could be experiencing a non-life-threatening issue that requires treatment, but their vital signs are within normal limits, and they are not in any immediate danger. Therefore, they can safely be prioritized after patients who require urgent or emergent interventions.

This approach helps healthcare providers allocate resources efficiently during a mass casualty situation, ensuring that those who are most at risk receive care first. The classification of patients ensures that the most severe cases (like those who need immediate life-saving interventions or who are unconscious and unresponsive) are attended to first, while those who are stable can wait for less critical interventions.