North Carolina Office of Emergency Medical Services (NCOEMS) Practice Exam

The primary goal of the triage process in emergency medical services (EMS) is to prioritize patients based on the severity of their condition. In a mass casualty situation or during any emergency where resources are limited, it is essential to quickly assess each patient's needs and assign them a priority level for treatment and transport. This ensures that those who are most critically injured or ill receive care first, which can significantly improve outcomes and save lives.

Triage allows emergency responders to effectively allocate their limited resources, such as time and personnel, in a way that maximizes efficiency and the effectiveness of care provided. Ultimately, this systematic approach to patient assessment enables EMS teams to manage multiple patients in a way that focuses on the greatest need for intervention first.