A fall greater than how many feet is considered for Trauma Alert criteria?

In the context of trauma alert criteria, a fall of 10 feet or greater is significant enough to warrant consideration for a trauma alert. This threshold is based on evidence and data suggesting that falls from this height can result in serious injuries, particularly when it involves vulnerable populations such as the elderly or in cases where the ground or surface may lead to devastating impacts.

When evaluating trauma cases, height of falls is a key factor due to the potential for severe blunt force trauma, including but not limited to head injuries, fractures, and internal injuries. It is essential to assess not only the height of the fall but also the mechanism involved—factors like landing surface and the position of the person upon impact can also influence injury severity.

The other options (5, 15, and 20 feet) do not align with the established criteria utilized for trauma alerts. A fall from 5 feet, while still potentially serious, typically does not meet the criteria given the frequency and nature of injuries sustained from such heights may not require the immediate advanced resources and interventions associated with trauma alerts. Conversely, falls of 15 feet and 20 feet are certainly serious but are above the national and local thresholds established in protocols for trauma alert protocols.