Jamie Thorpe, Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management
Juliana Linssen, Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management
Jeffrey Trudell, Milwaukee County Office of Emergency Management




The Pit Crew approach to medical cardiac arrest was originally designed to improve workflow efficiency and provider coordination during resuscitation. However, the management of traumatic arrest differs significantly in both pathophysiology and required interventions. Emerging evidence shows that chest compressions in traumatic arrest are largely ineffective until critical trauma-related Life-Saving Interventions (LSIs) are addressed. Given the complexity and urgency of these interventions, a specialized Pit Crew model for traumatic arrest is essential to reduce time to LSI completion and optimize outcomes. This presentation introduces a trauma-specific Pit Crew model tailored to the distinct needs of traumatic arrest resuscitation. The model incorporates all potentially indicated LSIs and accounts for the varied staffing structures common across EMS agencies. Implementation of this structured approach has resulted in an approximate 75% reduction in time to LSI completion on first attempts, compared to cases managed without a defined method. This innovative framework enhances EMS team efficiency, promotes early delivery of effective CPR when appropriate, and increases provider confidence in managing these high-acuity scenarios.
840 Armed Forces Dr
Ashwaubenon, WI 54304
United States
1. Recognize clinical criteria and scenarios that necessitate initiating pit crew-style management of traumatic arrests.
2. Describe the Roles and Responsibilities for each team member in trauma arrest.
3. Understand the sequence and delegation of interventions in 3-5 providers' trauma arrest scenarios.
4. Distinguish tasks appropriate to each level of provider and explain the boundaries of their clinical responsibilities.
5. Understand the use of cardiac monitoring in trauma arrest and how it informs intervention decisions.
6. Discuss the benefits of choreographed team roles, timing, and mutual support in improving the efficiency and effectiveness of resuscitation.