What characterizes a Mass Casualty Incident (MCI)?

A Mass Casualty Incident (MCI) is characterized by having more patients than the available resources can handle. This means that the number and severity of injuries exceed the capacity of emergency responders and hospitals to provide effective care at that moment. In such situations, a systematic approach to triage becomes essential, allowing responders to prioritize treatment based on patients' needs and the limited resources available.

In contrast, the other options describe scenarios that do not align with the definition of an MCI. A single patient requiring transport indicates a routine emergency that can typically be handled with standard resources. An emergency with minimal injuries suggests that the incident can easily be dealt with using available medical services. Likewise, a situation easily managed by first responders would lack the overwhelming demand for resources that defines a Mass Casualty Incident. Thus, the correct answer emphasizes the critical imbalance between the number of patients and the capacity of the response system.