West Coast EMT Block One Exam

Which of the following is NOT a responsibility of the medical branch in incident command?

1. Extrication

2. Treatment

3. Transport

4. Triage

The correct answer is: Extrication

The medical branch in incident command is primarily responsible for the treatment and management of patients at the incident scene. This includes triaging victims to prioritize who needs care first based on the severity of their injuries, providing immediate medical treatment to those in need, and facilitating their transport to appropriate medical facilities. Extrication, which involves removing patients from dangerous or inaccessible situations, falls under the responsibilities of the operations branch, particularly the rescue teams. This distinction is key to understanding the division of responsibilities within incident command. The medical branch's focus is on the care and management of patients rather than on the physical act of removing them from harm's way. Thus, extrication is not a role that belongs to the medical branch, highlighting why this choice is the correct response to the query.