In the START triage system, what criteria are used to classify patients?

In the START (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment) triage system, the criteria used to classify patients focus on assessing their immediate medical needs in an emergency situation. The correct choice highlights three critical factors: respirations, perfusion, and mental status.

Respirations refer to the patient's breathing rate and effort; if a patient is not breathing or has an irregular breathing pattern, this indicates a severe condition necessitating immediate care. Perfusion is assessed by evaluating capillary refill time or pulse quality, which indicates how well blood circulates to the extremities and the patient's overall blood volume and circulation status. Mental status is evaluated by checking the patient’s responsiveness—whether they can follow simple commands or are oriented to time and place. A patient’s ability to communicate and respond is crucial in determining their level of consciousness and potential need for urgent intervention.

By applying this triage criteria, responders can quickly determine which patients require immediate attention, which can wait for a brief period, and which may not survive their injuries, helping to effectively allocate limited resources during mass casualty situations. The other options do not encapsulate the essential elements of the START triage system, focusing instead on criteria that do not align with its primary objective of rapid assessment and prioritization based on