What should be prioritized at a mass casualty incident regarding patient treatment?

Prioritizing by injury severity is essential at a mass casualty incident because it allows responders to allocate limited resources effectively and ensure that those who are most in need of immediate medical attention receive it first. In such chaotic situations, the number of patients often overwhelms the available medical personnel and equipment, necessitating a triage system.

By focusing on the severity of injuries, first responders can identify and treat life-threatening conditions that present the greatest risk to the patient's survival. This triage process helps in managing the treatment flow and ensures that critical patients, such as those with severe hemorrhaging or compromised airways, are quickly stabilized and transported to medical facilities.

This approach is rooted in the principles of emergency medicine and disaster response, where the main goal is to save as many lives as possible, rather than attempting to provide equal treatment to everyone. In contrast, maximizing speed of transport, providing full treatment to all patients, or focusing on non-critical injuries do not adequately address the need for immediate intervention based on life-threatening conditions.