A multiple casualty incident involves how many individuals?

• A. 2-99 individuals
• B. 100+ individuals
• C. 1-5 individuals
• D. 50-200 individuals

Answer: (A)

Think about how the size of an incident guides your response. A multiple casualty incident is when there are several people injured in one event, enough that you can’t handle it with routine, single-patient care, but not so large that the whole scene becomes a full-scale mass casualty requiring extensive mutual aid and disaster planning. This middle ground is why EMS uses MCI protocols: set up an incident command system at an appropriate level, perform rapid triage to prioritize treatment and transport, and organize resources so you don’t get overwhelmed. A single casualty is managed with standard procedures, while a mass casualty involves so many patients that local resources are overwhelmed and broader, regional responses are needed. So the concept being tested is the size range that defines multiple casualty incidents—more than one person, but not a mass casualty.