We know that without quick application of a tourniquet to stabilize massive hemorrhage, the victim can die in 2–5 minutes. We know that without repositioning the head of a victim experiencing airway obstruction, they can die in 3–6 minutes. We know that an injury to the chest collapsing a lung can be fatal in 5–10 minutes.
Did you know that delaying evacuation to definitive care also increases mortality? The above actions only stabilize victims — without definitive care on an operating room table, survival is not assured.
Uncontrolled bleeding can be fatal in
2–5 min
Massive hemorrhage
Can lead to death in
3–6 min
Airway obstruction
Can be fatal in
5–10 min
Collapsed lung (chest injury)
Stabilization Is Not Survival
Rapid interventions — tourniquets, airway positioning, chest interventions — buy time, but they are not definitive care. Without rapid evacuation to the operating room, survival is not assured.
Delay = Increased Mortality
- →Every 10-minute increase in prehospital time increases mortality
- →~4–9% increase in odds of death per 10-minute delay
Hemorrhage Reality
- →Hemorrhage deaths occur early and are often preventable
- →~25% of trauma deaths are potentially preventable
- →The majority of hemorrhage deaths occur prehospital
Stop the Killing → Stop the Dying → MOVE to Definitive Care