"The Jump START Pediatric MCI Triage Tool is....[an] objective tool developed specifically for the triage of children in the multicasualty /disaster setting. Jump START was developed in 1995 to parallel the structure of the START system, the adult MCI triage tool most commonly used in the United States and adopted in many countries around the world. Jump START's objectives are: (1) to optimize the primary triage of injured children in the MCI setting (2) to enhance the effectiveness of resource allocation for all MCI victims (3) to reduce the emotional burden on triage personnel who may have to make rapid life-or-death decisions about injured children in chaotic circumstances Jump START provides an objective framework that helps to assure that injured children are triaged by responders using their heads instead of their hearts, thus reducing over triage that might siphon resources from other patients who need them more and result in physical and emotional trauma to children from unnecessary painful procedures and separation from loved ones. Un dertriage is addressed by recognizing the key differences between adult and pediatric physiology and using appropriate pediatric physiologic parameters at decision points. Jump START has rapidly gained acceptance by EMS agencies and hospitals throughout the US and Canada and is being taught in numerous countries internationally. The tool has been recognized for use by groups such as the US National Disaster Medical System's federal medical response teams and EMS providers in the National Park Service. Jump START is referenced in numerous EMS and disaster texts and has been incorporated into courses such as Pediatric Disaster Life Support (PDLS) and Advanced Pediatric Life Support (APLS)..... Jump START was designed for use in disaster/ multicasualty settings, not for daily EMS or hospital triage. The triage philosophies in the two settings are different and require different guidelines.... Jump START is also intended for the triage of children with acute injuries and may not be appropriate for the primary triage of children with medical illnesses in a disaster setting. Note: also that no MCI triage tool, including START and Jump START, has been clinically or scientifically validated at the time of publication of this website". (Romig, The JumpSTART Pediatric MCI Triage Tool, August 7, 2006 Revision)