Environmental health: START triage: 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.

Try it

PSM · Environmental health: START triage

Sample item

At a mass casualty site, a patient cannot walk, is breathing spontaneously and has a respiratory rate of 34 per minute. In START triage, what category is assigned?

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

The answer and the reasoning

B. Immediate (red)

In START triage, patients who cannot walk and breathe with a rate above 30 per minute are classed as immediate (red). Walking wounded are minor (green). Those who do not breathe after airway opening are black.

Option by option

  • A. Delayed (yellow)

    Delayed category is for those with normal respiration, perfusion and who obey commands.

  • B. Immediate (red) (correct)

    Correct. A respiratory rate above 30 per minute means immediate priority.

  • C. Expectant or dead (black)

    The black category is for those not breathing even after airway manoeuvres.

  • D. Minor (green)

    The minor category is for patients who can walk.

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 B, Immediate (red). In START triage, patients who cannot walk and breathe with a rate above 30 per minute are classed as immediate (red).

Why is "Delayed (yellow)" not the answer?

Delayed category is for those with normal respiration, perfusion and who obey commands.

Why is "Expectant or dead (black)" not the answer?

The black category is for those not breathing even after airway manoeuvres.

Why is "Minor (green)" not the answer?

The minor category is for patients who can walk.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Environmental health: START triage in PSM. Walking wounded are minor (green). Those who do not breathe after airway opening are black.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. 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: START triage?

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.