A triage nurse assesses a child involved in a school bus crash who has a respiratory rate of 8/min and is unresponsive. What triage rating should be assigned?

In this scenario, the child is assessed as having a respiratory rate of 8 breaths per minute and is unresponsive. This indicates a critical condition requiring immediate attention. In triage systems, such as the Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment (START) system, a patient’s airway and breathing status are prioritized for assessment, especially in emergency situations.

A respiratory rate of fewer than 10 breaths per minute in a child is indicative of potential respiratory failure or severe compromise. The unresponsiveness further suggests a life-threatening condition. In triage ratings, patients with obvious life threats, such as inadequate ventilation or diminished consciousness, are classified under the most urgent category—typically represented as "Red." This designation highlights the need for rapid intervention to stabilize the child's respiratory status and ensure appropriate care is administered quickly. Therefore, assigning a Red triage rating is warranted, as it indicates the necessity for immediate treatment to address life-threatening issues.