What type of incident requires the activation of a mass casualty incident (MCI) plan?

The activation of a mass casualty incident (MCI) plan is necessary when there is an incident that results in a large number of patients requiring immediate medical attention. This type of situation overwhelms the available medical resources, necessitating a coordinated response involving multiple agencies and personnel to provide timely care to all affected individuals. MCIs may arise from events such as large-scale accidents, natural disasters, or terrorist attacks, requiring special protocols to ensure that triage, treatment, and transportation of patients are effectively managed.

In contrast, situations involving a small number of injuries, primarily property damage, or confined to a single building typically do not demand the extensive resources or coordinated response entailed in an MCI plan. For example, if there are only a few injuries, standard emergency response procedures can often adequately handle the situation without the complexities of a mass casualty framework.