In START triage, which color tag corresponds to a patient who is not breathing?

• A. Red - RR greater than 29 or less than 10, no radial pulse, unable to follow simple commands, less than one year old
• B. Green - ambulatory
• C. Black - not breathing
• D. Yellow - RR between 10 and 29, radial pulse present, able to follow simple commands, greater than 1 year old, not ambulatory

Answer: (C)

In START triage, you assess quickly whether a patient is breathing as the first step in sorting who needs immediate help. If you open the airway and the patient does not resume breathing, after that quick check you tag them Black, meaning deceased or expectant. This designation reflects the low likelihood of survival with rapid field intervention, so responders focus on those who have a better chance of benefit. If the person is breathing, you then assess other factors to determine priority (Red for immediate, Yellow for delayed, Green for minor). That’s why not breathing corresponds to the Black tag.