In triage, what color tag indicates an Immediate (life-threatening) casualty?

• A. Black
• B. Red
• C. Yellow
• D. Green

Answer: (B)

In triage, color coding is used so responders can instantly see who needs care first. A red tag means Immediate life-threatening injuries require rapid, active intervention to prevent death. Think of cases where airway, breathing, or severe bleeding is compromised and quick actions—like securing an airway, stopping hemorrhage, or rapid transport—can make the difference between life and death. Other colors represent different urgency levels: a yellow tag is for injuries that are serious but not yet life-threatening, green for minor injuries where care can wait, and black for patients who are deceased or whose injuries are not survivable. This color system helps teams organize limited resources to save as many lives as possible.