What differentiates JumpSTART from START in pediatric triage?

• A. JumpSTART uses adult triage criteria with quick assessment.
• B. JumpSTART emphasizes walking wounded triage only.
• C. JumpSTART uses pediatric-specific triage criteria and simplified age-appropriate assessments, focusing on children who can't walk and adjusting for pediatric physiology.
• D. JumpSTART ignores pediatric physiology.

Answer: (C)

JumpSTART is a pediatric adaptation of the START triage approach that accounts for children's unique physiology. Instead of applying adult-only thresholds to kids, JumpSTART uses pediatric-specific criteria and simplified, age-appropriate assessments. This means responders quickly categorize children based on signs that align with how children breathe, perfuse, and respond at different ages, with a focus on those who cannot walk. By tailoring the evaluation to pediatric physiology, JumpSTART enables rapid, accurate triage of children in mass‑casualty situations without requiring extensive pediatric expertise. The other statements mischaracterize JumpSTART: it does not rely on adult criteria for all patients, it is not limited to walking wounded, and it does not ignore pediatric physiology.