Question

What constitutes a multiple-casualty incident (MCI)?

A. An event that unfolds over a long period of time and requires federal, state, and local response
B. An event that places a great demand on EMS equipment and personnel resources
C. Any event that requires additional ambulances to adequately transport the patients from the scene
D. An incident with 3 to 15 patients that the service handles without calling for additional resources

Answer 1

A multiple-casualty incident (MCI) occurs when the number of victims or the severity of their conditions overwhelms local EMS resources (option B) , necessitating exceptional emergency response and additional support.

Step-by-step explanation:

A Multiple-Casualty Incident (MCI) is generally defined as an incident which generates more patients at one time than locally available resources can manage using routine procedures. It requires exceptional emergency arrangements and additional or extraordinary assistance. It is characterized by an overwhelming demand on personnel and equipment. To classify an incident as an MCI, different systems may use varying patient number thresholds; however, one possible definition involves scenarios where the number of victims is enough to disrupt the normal operations of the responding units, potentially calling for mutual aid from other agencies.

Therefore, the best answer to the question about what constitutes a multiple-casualty incident (MCI) is option B: 'An event that places a great demand on EMS equipment and personnel resources'. This definition aligns with the overarching principle of an MCI, which is the relative inability of the standard emergency medical services to cope without additional support.