Trauma Response Activation Criteria

The Tiered Trauma Response Activation Criteria is what Methodist Trauma Services and Emergency Department use for staffing response. The response is all based on information obtained before or after the patient arrives.

Trauma 1 Activation Criteria:

• Arrives with tracheal intubation (includes hangings)
• Respiratory rate <10/min or Respiratory rate >29/minute
• Infant <1 year old with respiratory rate < 20/min)
• Systolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg (includes hangings)
• Receiving blood during transfer (includes hangings)
• Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) Score < 14 (includes hangings)
• Open skull fracture or depressed skull fracture
• Paralysis
• Penetrating injury to head, neck, torso, or extremity above (proximal to) elbow or knee.
• Flail chest
• Two or more proximal long bone fractures
• Crushed, Mangled, Degloved extremity
• Amputation: proximal to wrist or proximal to ankle
• Pelvic fracture
• Age 70 or older with Trauma 2 Activation Criteria
• Partial Thickness burns of > 10% TBSA or 3rd degree burn in any age group with associated trauma.
• Electrical or Chemical Burns and/or Inhalation injury
• Pregnancy > 20 weeks associated with trauma c/o vaginal bleeding or pelvic/abdominal pain
• Physician discretion

Truama 2 Activivation Criteria:

• Adult sustaining a fall from > 20 feet (1 story = 10 feet)
• Child sustaining a fall from > 10 feet or 2-3 times the height of the child
• Automobile crash with intrusion of more than 12 inches on occupant’s side
• Automobile crash involving prolonged extrication of patient
• Automobile crash with intrusion of more than 18 inches on any side
• Ejection (partial or complete) from vehicle
• Rollover vehicular crash
• Death of another individual in the same passenger compartment
• Vehicle telemetry data consistent with high risk of injury
• Automobile vs. pedestrian, who was thrown or run over or with significant impact( more than 20MPH)
• Automobile vs. bicyclist, who was thrown or run over or with significant impact( more than 20MPH)
• Motorcycle crash occurring at > 20 mph
• EMT or paramedic judgment identifies that Trauma 2 Activation Criteria should apply

Trauma 3 Activation Criteria:

Trauma 3 Response for all patients who do not meet at least one (1) of the Trauma 1 or Trauma 2 Activation Criteria’s above.