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Introduction
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 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.
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 at the time of publication of the JumpSTART website.
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