Pediatric Trauma in Disaster Medicine: Critical Management from Triage to Resuscitation in the Light of ATLS
Chapter from the book:
Beşe,
G.
G.
(ed.)
2026.
Disaster Academy: Multidimensional Approaches to Disaster Management.
Synopsis
This study addresses the prehospital and in-hospital management of pediatric trauma patients in disaster and mass-casualty settings, from triage to resuscitation. Pediatric patients constitute a special group that must be evaluated differently from adults in trauma management because of their narrow airway anatomy, higher oxygen consumption, limited circulatory reserve, strong but rapidly exhaustible compensatory mechanisms, lower metabolic reserves, and susceptibility to hypothermia. Therefore, early recognition, accurate prioritization, and timely intervention for pediatric trauma patients in disaster settings are critical for reducing mortality and morbidity. In this study, pediatric trauma management is examined on the basis of the systematic assessment principles of Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS). Airway, breathing, circulation, neurological assessment, and exposure are discussed in relation to pediatric physiology; shock, crush syndrome, hypothermia, massive hemorrhage, and the use of tranexamic acid are explained in light of the current literature. In addition, the JumpSTART system is evaluated as a practical approach to disaster triage that enables the rapid field classification of pediatric patients according to respiration, circulation, mental status, and mobility. The aim of the study is to provide an applicable guide for healthcare professionals working in disaster and ambulance settings regarding the recognition of early risk signs in pediatric trauma patients, appropriate triage, fluid resuscitation, hemorrhage control, temperature management, and the planning of metabolic complication management. In this framework, the study aims to standardize decision-making in pediatric trauma, draw attention to clinical pitfalls, and support the timely initiation of life-saving interventions. This structure directly contributes to rapid, safe, and prioritized clinical decision-making by field teams under conditions of limited resources.
