During a mass casualty incident, what is the first step responders should take?

In a mass casualty incident, the first step responders should take is to perform triage on incoming victims. Triage is a systematic process used to assess the severity of injuries and prioritize treatment based on the immediacy of the patients' medical needs. This ensures that those who require urgent attention are identified and treated first while minimizing the risk of overwhelming resources.

By conducting triage, responders can effectively allocate limited medical resources in a chaotic situation, ensuring that the most critically injured individuals receive care sooner. This step is crucial for maximizing the chances of survival in a mass casualty scenario, where the number of victims often exceeds available medical aid.

Starting transportation immediately or beginning treatment of all patients without triage can lead to inefficiencies and the potential for less severe cases to receive attention over those in dire need. Establishing a communication channel is important for coordination among responders but comes secondary to the immediate need for triaging victims to manage the overall response effectively.