When using START triage, which of the following patients would the EMT consider to be...

The correct answers are A and C.

START triage categorizes patients based on respirations, perfusion, and mental status (RPM). A red tag (Immediate) is assigned to patients who have life-threatening conditions that can be rapidly treated.

START Criteria for Red Tag (Immediate):

Respirations > 30/min

Capillary refill > 2 seconds or no radial pulse

Unable to follow commands

Option A: Correct (Red Tag)

The child is unconscious (cannot follow commands) → immediate red classification

Capillary refill is 4 seconds ( > 2 seconds) → poor perfusion

Meets two red criteria

Option C: Correct (Red Tag)

Normal respirations (acceptable), BUT

Capillary refill is 5 seconds ( > 2 seconds) → indicates poor perfusion/shock

This alone qualifies for red tag

Why the other options are incorrect:

B. Walking patient → Automatically categorized as green (minor) regardless of other findings

D. No breathing after airway repositioning → Classified as black (deceased/expectant), not red

E. Cannot walk but follows commands, normal breathing, normal pulse → Yellow (delayed)

Exact Extracts:

“Patients who can walk are tagged as minor (green).”

“If capillary refill is greater than 2 seconds, tag the patient as immediate (red).”

“If the patient cannot follow simple commands, tag as immediate.”

“If the patient is not breathing after airway repositioning, tag as deceased (black).”