Which of the following actions is NOT a typical pre-arrival action for a trauma patient?

Which of the following actions is NOT a typical pre-arrival action for a trauma patient?

• A. Activate trauma team
• B. Prepare trauma room
• C. Don PPE
• D. Call family

Answer: (D)

Pre-arrival actions are centered on getting the hospital ready to receive the patient and protecting the team so rapid, life-saving care can begin the moment the patient arrives. Activating the trauma team ensures immediate, coordinated staffing with defined roles. Preparing the trauma room guarantees a ready space with all necessary equipment and supplies. Donning PPE protects staff from exposure to blood and bodily fluids during the chaotic early assessment and interventions. Calling family, while important, is not a typical pre-arrival action. You don’t yet have patient information to share, and prioritizing the patient’s immediate clinical needs takes precedence. Family notification is usually handled after arrival and initial stabilization, often by a designated staff member or liaison. Hence, calling family is the action that does not fit the pre-arrival phase.

Pre-arrival actions are centered on getting the hospital ready to receive the patient and protecting the team so rapid, life-saving care can begin the moment the patient arrives. Activating the trauma team ensures immediate, coordinated staffing with defined roles. Preparing the trauma room guarantees a ready space with all necessary equipment and supplies. Donning PPE protects staff from exposure to blood and bodily fluids during the chaotic early assessment and interventions.

Calling family, while important, is not a typical pre-arrival action. You don’t yet have patient information to share, and prioritizing the patient’s immediate clinical needs takes precedence. Family notification is usually handled after arrival and initial stabilization, often by a designated staff member or liaison. Hence, calling family is the action that does not fit the pre-arrival phase.