What is the primary role of a triage commander?

The primary role of a triage commander is to supervise the sorting of patients based on the severity of their injuries. In mass casualty incidents or situations where multiple patients require care, effective triage is crucial to ensuring that those who need immediate medical attention receive it first. The triage commander oversees the triage process, which involves assessing each patient's condition and assigning priority levels for treatment.

This function is critical as it helps to allocate limited medical resources efficiently, ensuring that the most severely injured patients are treated without delay. By managing this process, the triage commander plays a vital role in the overall response to a medical emergency, facilitating a structured approach to patient care that can save lives.

While administering medical treatment, coordinating transport logistics, or evaluating patient conditions on-site are important roles in emergency management, they are not the main focus of the triage commander. Instead, the commander must prioritize the sorting of patients, which is foundational to effective emergency care in chaotic situations.