CPR in the Traumatic Cardiac Arrest Patient; Just Don’t Do It!

Traditional Advanced  Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) protocols were developed in the absence of  trauma—and yet, they are still applied to traumatic cardiac arrest (TCA).  This mismatch leads to wasted time on CPR and defibrillation while neglecting  the real killers of trauma: hemorrhage, hypoxia, tension pneumothorax, and  tamponade. This presentation challenges the dogma of chest compressions in  TCA and reframes resuscitation priorities for the prehospital environment.  Drawing on peer-reviewed research, real-world case studies, and emerging  international guidelines, participants will examine why CPR has no proven  survival benefit in traumatic arrest until reversible causes are corrected.  Attendees will leave with practical, evidence-based strategies to rapidly  identify and treat TCA—including blood administration, airway interventions,  decompression techniques, and recognition of when resuscitation is truly  futile. The goal is simple: to empower paramedics and EMTs with the tools and  confidence to deliver meaningful interventions in the most critical moments  of trauma care.