Which three elements comprise the pediatric assessment triangle?

• A. Appearance, Work of Breathing, Circulation to skin
• B. Airway, Breathing, Circulation
• C. Color, Pulse, Temperature
• D. Cardiac Rhythm, Respiratory Rate, Blood Pressure

Answer: (A)

The pediatric assessment triangle is a rapid first-impression tool used to quickly gauge a child’s condition by three observable domains: appearance, work of breathing, and circulation to the skin. Appearance reflects how alert or interactive the child is and their overall mental status. Work of breathing shows how hard the child is working to breathe, with signs like nasal flaring, retractions, and grunting indicating respiratory distress. Circulation to the skin assesses perfusion through skin color and temperature, helping identify shock or poor circulation.

Thus, the three elements that comprise the triangle are appearance, work of breathing, and circulation to the skin. The other options mix different concepts: a general resuscitation framework is often taught as airway, breathing, and circulation but isn’t the PAT; color, pulse, and temperature are individual signs but not the PAT triad; and cardiac rhythm, respiratory rate, and blood pressure are vital signs, not the three PAT domains.