| A | B |
|---|
| air embolism | An abnormal circulatory condition in which air travels through the bloodstream and becomes lodged in a blood vessel. |
| ABCs | Mnemonic for assessing status of emergency patients: Airway, Breathing, Circulation; used in one or two rescuer CPR. |
| biologic death | Results from permanent cellular damage caused by a lack of oxygen. |
| bioterrorism | Use of biologic agents to create fear and threat in a terrorist act. |
| brain death | Irreversible form of unconsciousness characterized by a complete loss of brain function while the heart continues to beat. The legal definition of this condition varies from state to state. |
| cardiac arrest | Sudden cessation of functional circulation. |
| cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) | Basic emergency procedure for life support, consisting of artificial respiration and manual external cardiac massage. |
| clinical death | Occurs when heartbeat and respiration have ceased. |
| contusions | An injury that does not break the skin, is caused by a blow, and is characterized by edema, discoloration, and pain. |
| crepitus | Sound that resembles the crackling noise heard when rubbing hair between the fingers or throwing salt onan open fire. It is associated with gas gangrene, the rubbing of bone fragments, or the crackles of a consolidated area of the lung in pneumonia. |
| cyanosis | Slightly bluish, gray, statelike, or dark purple discloration of the skin resulting from the presence of abnormally reduced amounts of oxygenated hemoglobin in the blood. |
| ecchymoses | Discoloration of an area of the skin or mucous membrane caused by the extravasation of blood into the subcutaneous tissues. Alsocalled a bruise. |
| emergency medical services (EMS) | National network of services coordinated to provide aid and medical assistance from primary response to definite care, involving personnel trained in the rescue, stabilization, transportation, and advanced treatment of traumatic or medical emergencies. |
| endemic | The expected or normal incidence native to or occuring naturally to a specific area or environment. |
| epidemic | Rapidly emerging at an uncharacteristic time or in an unusual pattern. |
| epistaxis | Hemorrhage from the nose; nosebleed. |
| epistaxis digitorum | Sel-inflicted local digital trauma (from nose-picking) |
| flail chest | Two or more ribs fractured in two or more places resulting in instability in part of the chest wall with associated hemothorax, pneumothorax, and pulmonary contusion. |
| Good Samaritan laws | Legal stipulation for protection of those who give first aid in an emergency situation. |
| hematemesis | Vomiting blood. |
| hematuria | Blood in the urine. |
| hemoptysis | Expectorating blood from the respiratory tract. |
| hemothorax | Collection of blood into the pleural space. |
| melena | Abnormal, black, tarry stool containing digested blood. |
| oliguria | A diminished capacity to form and pass urine (less than 500 mL in 24 hours); result is that the end products of metabolism cannot be excreted efficiently. |
| pleural space | The potential space between the visceral and parietal layers of the pleura. |
| pneumothorax | A collection of air or gas in the pleural space, causing the lung to collapse. |
| shock | Abnormal condition of inadequate blood flow to peripheral tissues, with life-threatening cellular dysfunction, hypotension, and oliguria. |
| stridor | Harsh sound made during respirations; high pitched and resembling the blowing of wind; due to obstruction of air passages. |
| tachycardia | An abnormal condition in which the myocardium contracts regularly but a rate greater than 100 beats per minute. |
| terrorism | Use or threats of violence by individuals or organized groups using biological, chemical, or nuclear weapons against society or government for political gain. |
| tetanus toxoid | Active agent prepared from detoxified tetanus toxin that produces an antigenic response in the body, conferring permanent immunity to tetanus infection. |
| triage | Process of classifying a group of patients as to the severity of injury and need of care. |
