EMS Protocol of the Week - General Trauma Care (Adult and Pediatric)

We’ll get more into specific trauma protocols throughout the year, but the protocol in place for general trauma care serves mostly to give the most basic level of approaches to supporting a patient and their ABCs during the initial scene encounter. It serves as a good refresher/reminder of some potentially more emergent injury patterns and what the first interventions should be.

The attached appendix also describes the criteria used in determining whether or not a patient should be brought to a trauma center or general ED. Keep in mind that, while there is some overlap, this is not for EMS to use in determining whether something is a Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 trauma; it only helps guide them on transportation destination (ie, trauma center or not). The level of activation is done at the hospital level.

Hope that all makes sense! Reach out with questions, www.nycremsco.org and the protocol binder for more.

Dave