If many people are hurt in an accident, what is the first step to decide who needs help the fastest?

The first step to decide who needs help the fastest after an accident with many injured people is triage. Triage is a medical process of rapidly sorting injured individuals based on the severity of their condition and the likelihood of their survival if treated promptly. Its primary purpose is to efficiently allocate limited medical resources to maximize the number of survivors. The immediate goal during this first step is to quickly identify and prioritize individuals with life-threatening conditions that require immediate intervention. This initial rapid assessment focuses on vital physiological functions, commonly referred to as the ABCs: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation/Bleeding. Airway refers to checking if the person's breathing passages are open and unobstructed. An obstructed airway prevents oxygen from reaching the lungs and is an immediate threat to life. Breathing involves assessing if the person is breathing adequately and effectively; inadequate breathing means the body is not getting sufficient oxygen. Circulation/Bleeding involves checking for a pulse and identifying and controlling any severe, active bleeding, as uncontrolled severe bleeding can rapidly lead to shock and death. Based on this rapid evaluation of the ABCs, individuals are assigned a priority level. For example, those with critical, life-threatening injuries, such as an obstructed airway or uncontrolled severe bleeding, who are likely to die without immediate intervention but are salvageable with quick treatment, are assigned the highest priority for urgent medical care. This systematic approach ensures that the most critical patients who can benefit most from immediate medical attention are identified and treated first, optimizing outcomes for the greatest number of people.