Which patient would be categorized as low priority in a mass casualty incident?

In a mass casualty incident, patients are prioritized based on the severity of their conditions and the likelihood of survival with immediate treatment. The classification system typically spans from high to low priority, focusing on those who require urgent medical attention to those whose injuries are less life-threatening.

The patient with a fractured humerus who does not show neurovascular compromise is considered low priority because their injury, while painful and potentially limiting, is not life-threatening. Unlike the other patients, this individual does not have severe bleeding, airway compromise, or a critical condition that would necessitate immediate intervention.

In contrast, the other options present scenarios where the patients are in much more critical condition. The patient with an open femur fracture and severe bleeding is at high risk of exsanguination and requires swift treatment. The patient with bilateral lower leg fractures and controlled moderate bleeding still has injuries that could worsen or lead to significant complications if not addressed promptly. The individual who is not breathing and has no pulse is in a life-threatening situation that requires immediate resuscitation efforts.

Thus, the patient with the fractured humerus is categorized as low priority due to the stable nature of their injury and the absence of immediate threat to life, allowing responders to focus on those in more critical