THE GOLDEN HOUR AND PLATINUM MINUTES In emergency medicine, there are two concepts that govern the delivery of life-saving treatment. the platinum minutes the golden hour Maybe you have heard of these concepts? They refer to the delivery of time efficient and competent emergency medical care. The term 'platinum minutes' refers to the care that is given to a patient in the first few minutes after they have developed a catastrophic illness or sustained a catastrophic injury. Giving CPR (i.e. cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is an excellent example of this type of treatment. Similarly, knowing how to apply a tourniquet to stop severe bleeding is another example of this level of care. Often, this care may be given by a family member, friend, stranger or a paramedic.  That's why basic first aid training is so important for all adults to know. You can literally save someone's life during the platinum minutes phase. On the other hand, the 'golden hour' refers to the s...