Golden Hour or Golden Opportunity: Early Management of Pediatric Trauma

The concept of a “golden hour” is a fixture in trauma care. There is a dearth of scientific proof for this concept but an abundance of controversy around how this concept should be interpreted, especially for pediatric trauma patients. Health care providers should instead focus on the “golden opportunity,” different for each patient, to provide the best care in the most appropriate environment for all injured children.

Keywords: pediatric trauma, golden hour, pediatric emergency, trauma systems, interfacility transport