What role does the ambulance crew play at a mass casualty incident?

In a mass casualty incident, the primary role of the ambulance crew is to triage and transport patients based on their severity of injuries. This involves quickly assessing each victim to determine who requires immediate care and transport to a medical facility, which is crucial in a situation where resources may be overwhelmed.

Effective triage ensures that those who are most critically injured receive the necessary medical attention as soon as possible, which can significantly improve survival rates. The ambulance crew must prioritize patients, considering factors such as the extent of their injuries, the potential for survival, and the available resources. This role is pivotal in managing the overall flow of patients during a chaotic situation and in coordinating with other emergency responders.

While establishing a command center is essential for overall incident management, this task typically falls to higher-level incident command personnel rather than the ambulance crew. Providing on-scene medical treatment to all victims is impractical in a mass casualty situation due to limited resources and time constraints; not every victim can be treated on-site, particularly those with more severe injuries that require immediate transport. Documenting all injuries and treatments administered, although important for later evaluation and follow-up care, is not the primary focus during the chaos of an active incident, making it less critical in the immediate response phase