In Incident Command System basic principles, who is in charge of triage?

In Incident Command System basic principles, who is in charge of triage?

• A. Incident Commander
• B. Med officer
• C. Safety Officer
• D. Communications Officer

Answer: (B)

Triage is a medical decision process on the scene, focused on quickly sorting casualties by how urgently they need care and who can be saved. The person who directs this medical flow and sets priority for treatment and transport is the medical authority on scene—the medical officer. They apply clinical judgment to assign triage tags, determine who requires immediate life-saving interventions, and coordinate with transport resources. The Incident Commander oversees the entire operation, but triage decisions come from medical management, not from safety, communications, or other non-medical roles. That’s why the medical officer is the best answer.

Triage is a medical decision process on the scene, focused on quickly sorting casualties by how urgently they need care and who can be saved. The person who directs this medical flow and sets priority for treatment and transport is the medical authority on scene—the medical officer. They apply clinical judgment to assign triage tags, determine who requires immediate life-saving interventions, and coordinate with transport resources. The Incident Commander oversees the entire operation, but triage decisions come from medical management, not from safety, communications, or other non-medical roles. That’s why the medical officer is the best answer.