General
purple plus
What does purple plus mean?
UK ambulance triage category for a patient with recognised signs of death — decapitation, rigor mortis, hypostasis, injuries incompatible with life. No resus attempted, scene handed over. The British counterpart to American 'DRT.'
"Crew on scene confirmed purple plus, no resus, awaiting police."
Origin
Part of the UK ambulance triage colour-coding system, where Purple denotes cardiac arrest and Purple Plus denotes 'recognition of life extinct' — death obvious enough that resuscitation isn't attempted.
Frequently asked questions
What does purple plus mean?
In the UK it's a code used to indicate a patient who is obviously and recognisably dead on scene.
How do you use purple plus in a sentence?
"Control, we've got a purple plus here — no resus attempted."
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