True or False: All patients with identified cold injury should first be assessed as trauma patients.

The statement that all patients with identified cold injury should first be assessed as trauma patients is true. This approach is critical because cold injuries, such as frostbite or hypothermia, can result in significant physical trauma that requires immediate medical attention.

When a patient presents with a cold injury, their condition may be complicated by additional factors, such as exposure to the elements, potential for associated injuries, and the physiological effects of cold on the body. Treating these patients as trauma cases allows medical personnel to conduct a comprehensive assessment, ensuring that life-threatening conditions are identified and managed appropriately.

This trauma-focused approach facilitates the prioritization of critical interventions, such as maintaining airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs), before addressing specific cold injury treatment. Moreover, assessing them within a trauma framework aids in proper triage and resource allocation, particularly in scenarios where cold exposure may have resulted in multiple injuries or coexisting medical problems.