What signal does a 'black' triage tag represent?

The significance of a 'black' triage tag in a mass casualty situation is that it represents those who are deceased or who have sustained injuries that are incompatible with life. When triaging multiple patients, a black tag indicates that the individual requires no transport or medical intervention as their condition is beyond help.

In triage systems, colors are used to quickly classify patients based on the severity of their injuries and the urgency of medical treatment required. Immediate transport is designated by other colors, signifying that those individuals need urgent care. In contrast, less serious injuries would receive tags indicating that they can wait for treatment or are in a stable condition, while those categorized for no transport are typically managed in a different manner—whether it be through comfort care or reassessment. Thus, the black tag's use serves a specific purpose in prioritizing care correctly and efficiently in catastrophic scenarios.