In the RPM triage method, what tag is assigned if a patient has 31 or more respirations?

In the RPM triage method, what tag is assigned if a patient has 31 or more respirations?

• A. Green
• B. Red
• C. Yellow
• D. Black

Answer: (B)

In RPM triage, breathing rate is the first quick filter. If, after opening the airway, a patient is breathing 31 or more times per minute, that indicates an immediate and life-threatening compromise in airway or breathing. Assigning a red tag flags the patient for immediate attention and rapid treatment, because they are at high risk of deterioration and need urgent evacuation to definitive care. This threshold (31 breaths per minute) is used precisely to prioritize those who require the fastest possible intervention. If the rate were 30 or fewer, you’d then move on to assess perfusion and mental status to determine subsequent urgency, but a rate of 31+ clearly places the patient at the highest priority.

In RPM triage, breathing rate is the first quick filter. If, after opening the airway, a patient is breathing 31 or more times per minute, that indicates an immediate and life-threatening compromise in airway or breathing. Assigning a red tag flags the patient for immediate attention and rapid treatment, because they are at high risk of deterioration and need urgent evacuation to definitive care. This threshold (31 breaths per minute) is used precisely to prioritize those who require the fastest possible intervention. If the rate were 30 or fewer, you’d then move on to assess perfusion and mental status to determine subsequent urgency, but a rate of 31+ clearly places the patient at the highest priority.