In a trauma arrest, if Trauma Hawk is not available, what is the maximum acceptable transport time to the nearest emergency department?

In the context of trauma arrest scenarios, timely transport to an emergency department is critical for optimizing patient outcomes. When Trauma Hawk, which typically offers faster air transport, is not available, ground transport becomes essential. The maximum acceptable transport time for ground transport to the nearest emergency department is established based on studies indicating that longer transport times can significantly decrease survival rates in trauma patients.

A maximum transport time of 40 minutes strikes a balance between reaching adequate care without compromising the patient’s chance for survival. The data emphasizes that after this point, the risks associated with delays begin to outweigh the benefits of reaching the hospital. While longer transport times may still be possible under certain circumstances, such as the availability of experienced transport teams, the standard remains firmly at 40 minutes to ensure that critical interventions are not delayed beyond a safe threshold.