If the description suggests TRAUMA, which Chief Complaint Protocol should you choose?

• A. The protocol that addresses scene safety concerns.
• B. The protocol that best addresses the mechanism of injury.
• C. The trauma-focused airway protocol.
• D. The medical arrest protocol.

Answer: (B)

When a description indicates trauma, the best choice is the protocol that uses how the injury occurred—the mechanism of injury—to guide questions, assessment, and anticipated injuries. Understanding the mechanism helps you predict what injuries to look for and what treatments or actions may be needed, even if the patient’s current symptoms aren’t dramatic yet. The scene-safety protocol is essential and should be addressed first, but it isn’t the trauma-specific path you’d select based on describing trauma. The trauma-focused airway protocol is important if airway compromise is the primary issue, but it focuses on a specific problem rather than guiding the overall trauma assessment tied to the injury’s cause. The medical arrest protocol relates to non-trauma medical emergencies, not traumatic injuries, so it isn’t the appropriate choice when trauma is described.