What is JumpSTART and what is its purpose in pediatric disaster triage?

• A. A pediatric-specific triage system designed to rapidly identify children needing immediate care during MCIs
• B. A general triage system for adults
• C. A framework for hospital incident command
• D. A plan for community vaccination

Answer: (A)

JumpSTART is a pediatric-focused way to quickly sort casualties in mass casualty incidents, designed to identify which children need immediate life-saving care. It recognizes that kids have different physiology from adults, so the triage process uses simple, age-appropriate cues rather than adult criteria. Responders perform a rapid, three-part check—assessing whether the child is breathing after a quick airway check, looking at circulation/perfusion, and noting mental status. Based on these quick observations, children are placed into priority categories that guide immediate interventions versus delayed care. The goal is to move through many victims fast in chaotic scenes, with minimal equipment and training, ensuring children who are most at risk receive attention first. This is distinct from adult-only triage systems, a hospital incident command framework, or vaccination planning.