In the event of a mass-casualty lightning strike, what type of triage should be implemented?

In the context of a mass-casualty lightning strike, implementing reverse triage is especially relevant due to the nature of the injuries typically sustained during such events. In a situation where multiple victims are affected, and resources such as medical personnel and equipment are limited, reverse triage prioritizes patients based on their likelihood of survival versus the level of care they will require.

This approach focuses on assessing the severely injured individuals whose prognosis is poor with immediate medical intervention versus those who may be stabilized and can wait for treatment. By applying reverse triage, responders can allocate resources more effectively, ensuring that those with the best chances of survival, even if they have less immediate need for treatment, receive care first. This method is critical in mass-casualty incidents where overwhelming situations demand quick thinking and effective prioritization.

In contrast, standard triage typically follows a straightforward protocol of assessing and classifying patients into categories based on severity without the urgency to prioritize based on resource limitations. Immediate and delayed triages also follow set protocols that don't fully address the unique challenges presented in a mass casualty event like a lightning strike, where a disproportionate number of casualties may exist in one or more categories.