In a triage situation, how should you categorize a patient with obvious distress but stable vitals?

In a triage situation, categorizing a patient with obvious distress but stable vital signs as a delayed (yellow) category is appropriate because it reflects that while the patient is experiencing noticeable distress, their vital signs indicate that their condition is not immediately life-threatening.

The yellow category is used for patients who require medical attention but can wait without significant risk of deterioration for a certain amount of time. Since the patient is stable, they can be prioritized behind those with more critical conditions who are in immediate danger, such as those categorized as immediate (red). The minimal (green) category is reserved for patients with minor injuries who require minimal care, and the deceased (black) category is for patients without signs of life or those who have injuries incompatible with survival. Thus, placing a patient in the yellow category allows for an effective distribution of available resources in a triage scenario, focusing first on the patients whose conditions are life-threatening.