Which of the following best describes the purpose of triage?

The purpose of triage is to prioritize care based on need, which is essential in emergency situations where multiple patients require attention. Triage allows medical personnel to quickly assess the severity of each patient’s condition and determine the order in which they should receive care. This method is particularly crucial in scenarios such as mass casualty incidents or emergency departments, where resources may be limited, and rapid decisions are necessary to save lives.

By evaluating the patient's immediate medical needs and prognosis, responders can allocate resources effectively, ensuring that those who are the most critically injured or ill are treated first. This systematic approach helps maximize the efficiency of emergency response and improve patient outcomes.

Other options, such as providing medication to all patients or conducting medical exams uniformly, do not align with the principles of triage, which focuses solely on prioritization based on urgency. Similarly, while transporting patients is an important aspect of medical response, it is not the primary purpose of triage.