What does START stand for?

• A. Simple Triage and Rapid Transport.
• B. Systematic Triage and Rapid Treatment.
• C. Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment.
• D. Surgical Triage and Rapid Transport.

Answer: (A)

START stands for Simple Triage and Rapid Transport. This name reflects a fast, field-tested approach used in mass casualty incidents to quickly sort victims by priority and move those in most need to care areas without delay. Simple Triage means using a few quick checks—often whether the person can walk, whether they are breathing after the airway is opened, their perfusion status, and their ability to follow simple commands—to assign a color tag that guides treatment priority. Rapid Transport emphasizes getting the most seriously injured to definitive care as soon as possible, rather than remaining in the scene for extended on-site care. The other phrases don’t match the established acronym or the method’s intent, so they aren’t used in this context.