During patient assessment, when do you determine the number of patients and the need for additional resources?

• A. Scene size-up
• B. Primary assessment
• C. Triage
• D. Transport decision

Answer: (A)

Determining how many patients are involved and whether additional resources are needed happens during the scene size-up. Right at the start of an incident, you quickly assess the scene for hazards, note how many people require assistance, and identify what resources (more units, specialized teams, equipment) are necessary. This early assessment shapes command decisions and how you mobilize responders, and it sets the stage for subsequent steps like triage and definitive care. The primary assessment focuses on each individual patient’s life threats and immediate care, not the overall scene. Triage is about sorting patients by urgency, which may reveal patient counts as you work, but the formal determination of numbers and resource needs is a scene size-up function. Transport decisions come after initial care priorities and triage have been addressed.