| A | B |
|---|
| sacrum, sacral vertebrae | The five fused vertebrae that form the rigid part of the posterior side of the pelvis |
| SAMPLE history | Mnemonic used to summarize a patient's relevant medical hsitory (signs/symptoms, allergies, medications, past hsitory, lost oral intake, events leading to injury or illness) |
| scapula | The shoulder blade |
| scene size-up | The process of determining scene safety, the nature of teh problem, total number of patients, and need for additional resources |
| school aged | Child who is 6 to 12 years old |
| sclera | Outermost layer of the eyeball; whites of the eyes |
| scoop stretcher | Device used to move patients with no suspected spinal injuries from confined areas |
| scope of practice | A description of the specific care and actions expected and allowed by law |
| seizure | Chaotic electrical activity in the brain that can lead to a momentary break in the stream of thought, muscular spasms, or a complete loss of consciousness |
| self-contained breathng apparatus (SCBA) | Equipment that provides clean air to a rescuer and protects him or her from hazardous vapors |
| sellick's maneuver | Pressure applied directly over the cricoid cartilage; also cricoid pressure |
| shock position | See Trendelenburg Position |
| short backboard | Device for immobilizing the upper part of the spine when a long boad cannot be used |
| show | Discharge of samll amount of blood-tinged mucus from the vagina at the onset of labor; also bloody show |
| side effect | Unwanted effects of a medication |
| sign | An observable indication of illness or injury |
| simple access | A rescue that does not require sophisticated equipment |
| skull | Cranium; the bones that comprise and protect the head |
| soft suction catheter | A soft catheter used for suctioning the nasopharynx and in other situations where a rigid catheter cannot be used |
| sphygmomanometer | A blood pressure cuff |
| spinal column | Vertebral column; consists of the servical, thoracic, and lunbar vertebrae |
| splint | Equipment used to prevent or reduce movement of body joints or injured tissue |
| stair chair | Specialized device used for transportation of patients down stairs or through narrow spaces; may have wheels |
| standard anatomical position | reference position in which the body is standing uprignt, facing the EMT with feet flat, arms at the side, palms forward |
| standard of care | The minimum acceptable level of care provided in an EMS system |
| standard precautions | The first level of the Centers for Disease Control's revised set of guidelines regarding isolation precautions established in 1996. Replaces BSI and universal precautions |
| standing orders | Preexisting written plans for treatment of specific complaints, interventions, or medications allowed by protocol without direct contact with medical direction |
| status epilepticus | A state of prolonged seizures or multiple seizures between which the patient does not regain consciousness |
| sterile | Free of microorgamisms (bacteria, viruses, spores) that can cause infection |
| sternum | Flat bone in the center of the anterior chest; the breastbone |
| stoma | A surgically created opening into a body cavity |
| stress | Natural emotional or physical reaction to threatening or challenging situations |
| stridor | Harsh, high-pitched sound during inspiration |
| stroke | Common term for a cerebrovascular accident |
| subcutaneous | Third layer of skin located under th dermis; attaches the skin to underlying structures |
| sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) | Crib death; cause unknown |
| superficial burn | Burn involving only the top layer of the skin (epidermis); first degree burn |
| superior | Above another structure |
| supine (position) | Lying on the back |
| supine hypotensive syndrome | Maternal hypotension caused when the mother is lyng on her back and the weigth of teh fetus compresses her inferior vena cava |
| symptom | Condition described by the patient that can't be observed |
| syncope | Sudden onset of a temporary loss of consciousness casued by low blood pressure in the brain; fainting |
| systolic pressure | The pressure in the arterial system when the left ventricle contracts; frist sound heard when assessing blood pressure by auscultation |
