The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) is a standardized neurological assessment tool that quantifies a patient's level of consciousness following a head injury. It evaluates three components: eye opening, verbal response, and motor response, assigning scores to each category that collectively range from 3 to 15. Not to be confused with other consciousness scales, the GCS is integral to the START triage system, aiding in the rapid evaluation of patients in emergency medical situations. In EMS contexts, it is commonly framed alongside structured communication and triage concepts such as START (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment) or SALT (Sort, Assess, Lifesaving interventions, Treatment/Transport) as shared terminology.
Category context: Patient care, assessment, interventions, triage, and EMS system terms commonly used by firefighter/medics.