According to the START tool, which colored tag indicates a victim who should be transported first?

The START (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment) tool is used in mass casualty incidents to prioritize victims based on the severity of their injuries and the urgency of their need for medical care. The color-coding system in START helps responders quickly determine which victims require immediate attention and transportation.

A red tag indicates a victim who is in critical condition and requires immediate medical assistance. These individuals often have life-threatening injuries, such as severe bleeding, airway obstruction, or unstable vital signs. Ensuring these patients are transported first is essential because timely intervention can be the difference between life and death.

The other colored tags represent different urgency levels: yellow is for those who have serious but not immediately life-threatening injuries, green is for minor injuries that can wait for treatment, and black signifies deceased or those whose injuries are so severe that survival is not feasible, thus requiring no immediate transport. This system effectively streamlines the triage process, allowing responders to maximize the chance of survival for those in critical condition.