Damage control surgery is the concept of abbreviating interventions in severely injured patients to prevent physiologic exhaustion and optimize outcome. The concept has been expanded from the operative technique to principles underlying the logistical flow of a trauma patient from the scene through the emergency department to the operating room, then intensive care unit (ICU) for resuscitation, and back to the operating room (OR) for definitive repair. Patients with multiple cavity injuries, blast injuries, burns, traumatic brain injuries, and crush injuries are especially challenging. To implement damage control and salvage a severely injured patient, the team—prehospital providers, emergency department personnel, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and ICU and OR staff—must recognize patients who will benefit from damage control and effectively communicate to ensure smooth transitions from the scene through the hospital system while providing quality care in each setting.