North Carolina EMT State Practice Exam

The Triage Supervisor in an MCI is responsible for which of the following?

1. Communicating with hospitals

2. Overall scene management

3. Evaluating and prioritizing patients

4. Managing ambulance staging

The correct answer is: Evaluating and prioritizing patients

The Triage Supervisor in a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) plays a crucial role in evaluating and prioritizing patients based on the severity of their injuries. This involves quickly assessing each patient to determine the urgency of their medical needs and categorizing them into appropriate triage groups. The goal is to ensure that those who require immediate medical attention receive it as soon as possible, thereby improving their chances of survival. This responsibility is essential in a chaotic MCI setting where resources such as medical personnel and transport may be limited. By efficiently evaluating patients and prioritizing their treatment, the Triage Supervisor helps streamline the triage process and ensures that medical resources are allocated effectively. The other roles mentioned, such as communicating with hospitals, managing overall scene management, and managing ambulance staging, while important, fall under different responsibilities in the incident command structure. Each of these roles contributes to the overall effectiveness of the response but does not specifically address the direct assessment and prioritization of patients that is central to the Triage Supervisor's duties.