Which transport decision is used for unstable patients?

• A. Stay & Play
• B. Load & Go
• C. Standby Transfer
• D. Slow & Stabilize

Answer: (B)

Unstable patients need rapid transport to definitive care. The priority is to minimize time on scene and get the patient to a facility capable of advanced interventions as quickly as possible, while performing only essential life-saving measures en route. This approach is known as load & go. Prolonged on-scene stabilization would delay definitive treatment and worsen outcomes for someone who is unstable. Standby transfer or slow & stabilize imply delaying transport or over-stabilizing before leaving, which is not appropriate in instability. So, the transport decision used for unstable patients is load & go.