What does 'MCI' stand for in emergency services?

In emergency services, 'MCI' stands for Mass Casualty Incident. This term refers to situations where the number of casualties exceeds the system's ability to provide adequate medical care using routine protocols. MCIs typically occur in disasters, terrorist attacks, or large-scale accidents where many individuals require urgent medical attention, placing significant strain on emergency services.

Understanding this term is crucial for responders as it dictates how they manage resources, triage patients, and coordinate with various agencies during overwhelming incidents. The focus is on maximizing survival rates and providing timely aid to the greatest number of victims, which involves specific training and predefined protocols for response. In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the commonly accepted terminology in emergency response frameworks.