What is the primary goal of disaster triage?

The primary goal of disaster triage is to do the most good for the most people. This principle is rooted in the need to allocate limited medical resources effectively during a disaster or emergency situation, when the number of injured or ill individuals may overwhelm the available healthcare capacity.

In such scenarios, healthcare providers must assess patients' conditions quickly and determine who requires immediate care based on the severity of their injuries and the likelihood of survival if treatment is provided promptly. This approach ensures that the greatest number of patients receives appropriate care and increases overall survival rates in situations where resources are scarce.

While minimizing the use of resources is important in disaster management, the ultimate aim remains centered on maximizing patient outcomes and community health. Prioritizing care based on financial costs or treating every patient equally would not be effective strategies in the context of a disaster, as they do not account for the varying levels of need and the urgency of treatment based on clinical assessment.