West Coast EMT Block One Exam

In the START triage system, if a patient has a respiratory rate of 24 breaths/min, what is the next step?

1. Administer high-flow oxygen.

2. Triage the patient as delayed.

3. Assess for bilateral radial pulses.

4. Assess the patient's neurologic status.

The correct answer is: Assess for bilateral radial pulses.

In the START (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment) triage system, assessing the patient's respiratory status is a critical first step. If a patient is presenting with a respiratory rate of 24 breaths per minute, this indicates that they are breathing rapidly, which often suggests a potential respiratory compromise. The next step after determining the respiratory rate is to assess for bilateral radial pulses to evaluate circulation and hemodynamic stability. This assessment helps determine if the patient is in shock or has compromised circulation, which is essential for making an overall triage decision. A sustained, rapid respiratory rate can often be a sign that the patient may be in the immediate or urgent category depending on their overall condition, but it is crucial to further assess their perfusion status through pulse assessment. Addressing the other options, administering high-flow oxygen could be appropriate for patients in respiratory distress, but it does not directly follow the initial assessment protocols of triage as outlined by the START method. Triageing the patient as delayed would be premature without more information regarding vitals and overall stability. Finally, while assessing the patient's neurologic status is important, it is a secondary consideration compared to the immediate need to check perfusion and pulse. Thus, assessing bilateral radial pulses is fundamental in this