North Carolina Basic Law Enforcement Training (BLET) State Practice Exam

If someone is triage level yellow, which of the following signs may they exhibit?

1. Unresponsive, weak pulse, no breathing

2. Alert, pulse, and breathing more than 30 breaths per minute

3. Confused, strong pulse, normal breathing

4. Conscious, rapid pulse, breathing less than 10 times per minute

The correct answer is: Alert, pulse, and breathing more than 30 breaths per minute

A triage level yellow indicates that a patient is seriously injured or ill but is stable enough that they can wait for medical treatment. This level is generally associated with conditions that require urgent care but do not pose an immediate threat to life. The signs of being alert, having a pulse, and breathing more than 30 breaths per minute signify that the individual is responsive and actively functioning, albeit possibly in distress. The elevated respiration rate can be indicative of stress, pain, or a compensatory response to an underlying issue, yet the person is still able to maintain awareness and has enough physiological stability to communicate or respond to others. In contrast, the other choices indicate either severe instability or critical conditions, such as unresponsiveness or low breathing rates, which are more likely to correspond with higher triage levels such as red (immediate treatment needed). Thus, choice B appropriately reflects the status of an individual classified under the yellow triage designation.