Damage control surgery prioritizes rapid control of bleeding and contamination to stabilize critically injured patients. It involves temporary closure to allow physiological recovery before definitive repair. Prevention of hypothermia is crucial as hypothermia worsens coagulopathy and acidosis. However, definitive reconstruction is deliberately postponed to a later stage once the patient's condition improves, making it NOT a principle of initial damage control surgery. The focus is on saving life over completing final repairs during the initial operation.

Reference: Schwartz's Principles of Surgery, 11th Edition.