What is the most effective standard precaution during a mass-casualty incident?

The most effective standard precaution during a mass-casualty incident is changing gloves between contacts with different patients. This practice is essential in preventing cross-contamination and minimizing the risk of transmitting infections in an environment where multiple patients are receiving care. In a mass-casualty situation, there may be a variety of communicable diseases present, and healthcare providers must ensure that pathogens from one patient do not spread to another.

Changing gloves between patients is a straightforward yet highly effective way to maintain infection control. It immediately reduces the possibility of pathogens transferring from one patient to the next, ensuring that each patient receives the safest care possible. This practice is part of the standard precautions recommended by health authorities to protect both healthcare providers and patients from infections.

While washing hands is important and a key component of infection control, in a high-pressure environment like a mass-casualty incident, frequent handwashing between contacts may not always be feasible, especially in the chaotic setting where immediate care is needed. Placing clean gloves over soiled gloves is ineffective since the underlying soiled gloves can still harbor pathogens. Asking each patient about communicable diseases also does not provide immediate protection against infection during a mass-casualty incident, as it does not directly eliminate the risk of