Florida State Paramedic Practice Exam

Upon arriving at a scene with six injuries reported, what is your first action?

1. Begin treatment

2. Start triage

3. Call for additional resources

4. Secure the scene

The correct answer is: Start triage

Beginning with triage is essential in a mass casualty incident or when multiple injuries are reported. This process allows the paramedic to assess and prioritize patients based on the severity of their injuries and the urgency of their medical needs. By identifying which patients need immediate care and which can wait for treatment, responders can effectively allocate resources and manage the scene more efficiently. Initiating treatment without triage could result in victims with life-threatening conditions not receiving timely care, while less critical patients may occupy resources unnecessarily. Furthermore, securing the scene is important for safety, but triage must come first in the context of multiple injuries to ensure that the most critical patients are identified and treated rapidly. While calling for additional resources is a valid consideration, triage helps determine the extent of those needs and can guide requests accordingly.