ERT ERT Medical Emergencies & Triage 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which triage tag color is used for patients who are deceased or have unsurvivable injuries in the START triage system?
- Black (Correct answer)
- Red
- Yellow
- Green
Correct answer: Black
Black tags in the START triage system denote patients who are deceased or have injuries so severe that survival is unlikely even with extensive care.
Question 2: In the START triage system, what respiratory rate indicates a patient should be tagged RED (immediate)?
- Greater than 30 breaths per minute (Correct answer)
- Less than 12 breaths per minute
- 12–20 breaths per minute
- 20–30 breaths per minute
Correct answer: Greater than 30 breaths per minute
A respiratory rate greater than 30 breaths per minute in START triage indicates a critical airway or breathing compromise and warrants an immediate (red) tag.
Question 3: What is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for adult CPR performed by a single rescuer?
- 30:2 (Correct answer)
- 15:2
- 15:1
- 30:1
Correct answer: 30:2
Current AHA guidelines recommend a 30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio for single-rescuer adult CPR to maintain adequate circulation.
Question 4: Which type of bleeding is characterized by dark red blood that flows steadily from a wound?
- Venous bleeding (Correct answer)
- Arterial bleeding
- Capillary bleeding
- Internal bleeding
Correct answer: Venous bleeding
Venous bleeding produces a steady flow of dark red blood because veins carry deoxygenated blood at lower pressure than arteries.
Question 5: When treating a patient for shock in the field, what position should be used if spinal injury is NOT suspected?
- Supine with legs elevated 8–12 inches (Correct answer)
- Seated upright
- Recovery (lateral) position
- Prone position
Correct answer: Supine with legs elevated 8–12 inches
Elevating the legs 8–12 inches in a supine patient helps increase venous return to the heart, improving cardiac output in shock.
Question 6: An ERT member finds an unresponsive adult who is not breathing normally. What is the FIRST action after confirming scene safety?
- Call for help and activate EMS (Correct answer)
- Begin chest compressions immediately
- Open the airway with head-tilt chin-lift
- Check for a pulse for 10 seconds
Correct answer: Call for help and activate EMS
Activating EMS (calling for help) before starting CPR ensures advanced resources are en route while care is initiated.
ERT ERT Medical Emergencies & Triage 1
Which triage tag color is used for patients who are deceased or have unsurvivable injuries in the START triage system?