The Advanced Trauma Life Support^® (ATLS^®) program has endured for nearly 40 years across six continents in 86 countries through 64,000 courses offered to more than 1.1 million students. The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Committee on Trauma (COT) course remains true to its core mission—to provide health care professionals with access to education that will enhance their ability to accurately provide an initial assessment, resuscitate, stabilize, and determine next steps in the care of the injured patient.

The ATLS global educational curriculum provides a systematic, concise approach to trauma patient care in an effort to improve trauma outcomes around the world. The content and skills taught in the course are designed to be adaptable to all health care settings for the care of patients and are intended for the immediate management of the injured patient. The knowledge gained through the course allows participants to rapidly and accurately assess the patient; stabilize and resuscitate by priority; determine the needs of the patient and whether those needs exceed the resources of the treatment facility; arrange for appropriate definitive care; and ensure that optimal care is provided.

Modifications occur in both format and content with each new edition. This article offers a chapter-by-chapter description of what is covered in the 10th edition of ATLS, which was published in January.