In mass casualty triage, the primary goal is?

• A. First-come, first-served
• B. Treat the most severely injured first
• C. Greatest good for the greatest number of people
• D. Prioritize the youngest

Answer: (C)

In mass casualty triage, the priority is to save as many people as possible given limited resources. This means prioritizing care for those who have the best chance of survival with the resources at hand, so overall the number of lives saved is maximized.

This approach isn’t about treating the most severely injured first or acting on who arrived first, or choosing based on age. Those strategies can waste limited resources on patients less likely to benefit, reducing the total number saved. For example, someone with a serious injury who can be stabilized quickly and has a good chance of recovery may be treated before someone with more severe injuries but a poorer prognosis, because the former contributes more to the overall outcome under the circumstances.