JumpSTART and MCI Triage - jumpstarttriage

The JumpSTART Pediatric MCI Triage Tool is the world's first objective tool developed specifically for the triage of children in the multicasualty/disaster setting. JumpSTART was developed in 1995 to parallel the structure of the START system, the adult MCI triage tool most commonly used in the United States and adopted in many countries around the world.
 
JumpSTART's objectives are:
 
1) to optimize the primary triage of injured children in the MCI setting
2) to enhance the effectiveness of resource allocation for all MCI victims 
3) to reduce the emotional burden on triage personnel who may have to make rapid life-or-death decisions about injured children in chaotic circumstances

JumpSTART provides an objective framework that helps to assure that injured children are triaged by responders using their heads instead of their hearts, thus reducing overtriage that might siphon resources from other patients who need them more and result in physical and emotional trauma to children from unnecessary painful procedures and separation from loved ones. Undertriage is addressed by recognizing the key differences between adult and pediatric physiology and using appropriate pediatric physiologic parameters at decision points.

JumpSTART has rapidly gained acceptance by EMS agencies and hospitals throughout the US and Canada and is being taught in numerous countries internationally. The tool has been recognized for use by groups such as the US National Disaster Medical System's federal medical response teams and EMS providers in the National Park Service. JumpSTART is referenced in numerous EMS and disaster texts and has been incorporated into courses such as Pediatric Disaster Life Support (PDLS) and Advanced Pediatric Life Support (APLS).  

Please note that JumpSTART was designed for use in disaster/multicasualty settings, not for daily EMS or hospital triage. The triage philosophies in the two settings are different and require different guidelines (see the Principles of MCI Triage lecture). JumpSTART is also intended for the triage of children with acute injuries and may not be appropriate for the primary triage of children with medical illnesses in a disaster setting. Note also that no MCI triage tool, including START and JumpSTART, has been clinically or scientifically validated using data from MCI victims.

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