Which of the following is NOT listed as a criterion for a reliable victim?

• A. A&O3
• B. Sober
• C. No distracting injury (greater than 5/10)
• D. Age over 65

Answer: (D)

The question tests what makes a casualty reliable during assessment. A reliable victim is someone who can give accurate information and follow instructions, so it’s crucial that they can think clearly and communicate effectively.

First, being alert and oriented to person, place, and time shows they’re mentally engaged and able to provide meaningful history and respond coherently. If they’re not oriented, their answers may be confusing or misleading, making them unreliable for important details.

Second, being sober matters because substance use can impair memory, judgment, and communication. A drunk or intoxicated person may misreport events or forget details, reducing reliability.

Third, having no distracting injuries means they’re not overwhelmed by severe pain or other urgent issues that dominate their attention. If pain is extreme or a pressing injury is present, the patient may not be able to focus on questions or instructions, lowering reliability.

Age over 65 is not a criterion used to judge reliability. Being older doesn’t inherently render someone unreliable; reliability is about current mental status, clarity of communication, and ability to participate in the assessment, not age alone.