Environmental health: triage in disaster: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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PSM · Environmental health: triage in disaster

Sample item

During a mass casualty event, a patient with airway obstruction and shock who is likely to survive with immediate intervention is tagged with which triage colour?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

C. Red

Red indicates immediate priority for life-threatening but salvageable injuries. Yellow is delayed, green is minor and black is dead or expectant.

Option by option

  • A. Green

    Green patients have minor injuries.

  • B. Yellow

    Yellow patients can wait a short while.

  • C. Red (correct)

    Correct. Red denotes immediate care.

  • D. Black

    Black denotes dead or unsalvageable patients.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is C, Red. Red indicates immediate priority for life-threatening but salvageable injuries.

Why is "Green" not the answer?

Green patients have minor injuries.

Why is "Yellow" not the answer?

Yellow patients can wait a short while.

Why is "Black" not the answer?

Black denotes dead or unsalvageable patients.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Environmental health: triage in disaster in PSM. Yellow is delayed, green is minor and black is dead or expectant.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Environmental health: triage in disaster?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.