In a triage scenario with four lightning-struck patients, which one should be treated first?

In a triage scenario, the priority of treatment is often determined by the severity of a patient's condition and the immediacy of their need for medical intervention. In this case, the unresponsive 75-year-old female who is apneic (not breathing) and pulseless represents the highest priority.

This patient displays signs of cardiac arrest, indicated by her unresponsiveness and the absence of breathing and pulse. In emergency medicine, patients in such a critical state require immediate resuscitative efforts, as they are at the greatest risk of death without prompt intervention. The chances of successful resuscitation diminish significantly the longer a patient remains in cardiac arrest, making it imperative to address this situation first.

Treating this patient aligns with the principles of triage, where the goal is to maximize survival by addressing those whose conditions are most likely to be life-threatening and who have the potential for recovery if emergency treatment is administered quickly.