North Carolina EMT State Practice Exam

What indicates a Priority 2 patient in an MCI?

1. They have minimal injuries

2. They are not expected to live

3. They have urgent but not immediately life-threatening conditions

4. They are dead or not expected to live

The correct answer is: They have urgent but not immediately life-threatening conditions

A Priority 2 patient in a mass casualty incident (MCI) is characterized by having urgent but not immediately life-threatening conditions. This classification is part of the triage system used to prioritize patients based on the severity of their injuries and the urgency with which they require medical treatment. In an MCI, resources are limited, and patients must be categorized quickly to ensure that those in most need of immediate care are treated first. A Priority 2 patient typically requires treatment soon but is stable enough to wait a little longer compared to more critically injured patients, who are classified as Priority 1. Understanding how to classify patients effectively is crucial in emergency medicine, as it allows responders to allocate resources where they are needed most efficiently. Priority 2 patients may have conditions such as serious fractures, moderate bleeding, or respiratory difficulties that require attention but are not immediately life-threatening. This contrasts with patients who are in life-threatening conditions or those who are deceased, which are categorized differently.