In a mass casualty incident, what triage priority would you assign to a patient showing a 3-inch laceration on his forearm?

In the context of a mass casualty incident, triage is utilized to prioritize patients based on the severity of their conditions and the resources available. A patient with a 3-inch laceration on the forearm would typically be assigned a green triage priority, which indicates that the patient is categorized as "delayed" or "minor."

This category is reserved for individuals who have sustained injuries that are not life-threatening and can wait for treatment without risking their lives. A forearm laceration, while it may require medical assistance to prevent infection and control bleeding, does not usually pose an immediate threat to life, limb, or eyesight, especially when compared to more severe injuries that would warrant a red or yellow classification.

In contrast, a red triage priority would be assigned to patients who are critical and require immediate intervention, while yellow would indicate those who are stable but still need care soon. A black designation is used for patients who are deceased or have injuries that are unsurvivable. This systematic approach ensures that the most critical cases receive attention first, making green the appropriate triage level for a patient with a minor laceration.