Trauma Field Triage Criteria

Question 1

Step 1 Measure vital signs and level of consciousness. If the patient’s:

Answer 1

A. Glasgow Coma Scale is 13 or less;
B. Systolic blood pressure is less than 90 mmHg; or
C. Respiratory rate is less than 10 or greater than 29 breaths per minute (less than 20 in infant aged less than 1 year), or is in need of ventilatory support
the adult patient MUST be transported to a Level 1 or 2 center for the treatment of trauma in accordance with the catchment area designated. The pediatric patient MUST be transported to a pediatric center for the treatment of trauma.

Question 2

Step 2 – Assess anatomy of injury. If the patient has:

Answer 2

A. Penetrating injuries to head, neck, torso, or extremities proximal to elbow or knee
B. Chest wall instability or deformity
C. Two or more proximal long bone fractures
D. Crushed, degloved, mangled, or pulseless extremity
E. Amputation proximal to the wrist or ankle
F. Pelvis fractures
G. Open or depressed skull fractures
H. Paralysis
the adult patient MUST be transported to a Level 1 or 2 center for the treatment of trauma in accordance with the catchment area designated. The pediatric patient MUST be transported to a pediatric center for the treatment of trauma.

Question 3

Step 3 – Assess mechanism of injury and evidence of high-energy impact, which may include:

Answer 3

A. Falls
1) Adults: greater than 20 feet (one story is equal to 10 feet)
2) Children: greater than 10 feet or two times the height of the child High-risk auto crash
B. High risk auto crash
1) Motor vehicle was traveling at a speed of at least 40 miles per hour immediately before the collision occurred;
2) Intrusion, including roof: greater than 12 inches occupant site; greater than 18 inches any site;
3) Ejection (partial or complete) from automobile;
4) Motor vehicle rolled over with unrestrained occupant(s);
5) Death in same passenger compartment
C. Motorcycle crash greater than 20 mph
D. Auto vs pedestrian/bicyclist thrown, run over, or with significant (greater than 20 mph) impact
The patient MUST be transported to a Level 1, 2, or 3 center for the treatment of trauma in accordance with
the catchment area designated. For patients who are injured outside a 50-mile radius from a trauma center, the licensee providing emergency medical care shall call and consider transport to the nearest receiving facility

Question 4

Step 4 – Assess special patients

Answer 4

A. Older adults
1) Risk of injury/death increases after age 55 years
2) SBP less than 110 mmHg might represent shock after age 65 years
3) Low impact mechanisms (e.g. ground level falls) might result in severe injury
B. Children should be triaged preferentially to a trauma center.
C. Anticoagulants and bleeding disorders: Patients with head injury are at high risk for rapid deterioration.
D. Burns
1) Without other trauma mechanisms: transport in accordance with the Burns protocol
2) With trauma mechanism: follow appropriate catchment guidelines for trauma. Trauma patients with burns
falling into St Rose Siena catchment area will be transported to Sunrise Hospital.
E. Pregnancy greater than 20 weeks
F. EMS provider judgment
The patient MUST be transported to a Level 1, 2, or 3 center for the treatment of trauma in accordance with
the catchment area designated. For patients who are injured outside a 50-mile radius from a trauma center, the licensee providing emergency medical care shall call and consider transport to the nearest receiving facility.