What does a 360-degree assessment at a mass casualty incident involve?

• A. Check weather conditions only.
• B. Check hazards, patient locations, and access and egress routes.
• C. Check hospital bed availability.
• D. Check patient vital signs remotely.

Answer: (B)

A 360-degree assessment at a mass casualty incident is a rapid, all-around scene size-up that focuses on three things: hazards at the scene, where patients are located, and how responders and vehicles will access and move through the area. By surveying the entire scene, responders identify dangers that could endanger rescuers or victims, determine how patients are clustered for triage and treatment, and map safe entry points plus routes for patient transport and egress. This information guides rescue priorities, secures a safe approach, and helps prevent bottlenecks during evacuation. Weather and hospital bed availability aren’t central to this on-scene survey—weather is a broader consideration and hospital bed status is a downstream resource issue.