| A | B |
|---|
| direct medical direction | physicians speaking directly with personnel in the field |
| emergency medical dispatcher | gives instructions over the phone until EMS arrives |
| EMS system | a method for planning, providing, and monitoring emergency care |
| Emergency Medical Technician | general term for a prehospital care provider |
| EMT-Basic | EMT who provides primary care before the patient reaches the hospital |
| EMT-Intermediate | EMT with additional eduation such as vascular access, but not full advanced life support |
| EMT-Paramedic | highest level of EMT, with full advanced life-support capabilities |
| First Responder | provides initial emergency care until the ambulance arrives |
| indirect medical direction | off-line activities like system design, eduation, and quality improvement |
| medical direction | the process of ensuring that care is medically appropriate |
| Nationa EMS education and Practice Blueprint | core content for scope of practice for EMS providers |
| quality improvement | a method for evaluating and improving care |
| BSI precautions | steps taken to prevent exposure to blood or other body fluids |
| critical incident | causes unusually strong reactions and interferes with work |
| critical incident stress debriefing | process to help emergency workers deal with emotions and feelings |
| hazardous material | substance that poses an unreasonable risk on release |
| stress | tension resulting from physical, chemical, or emotional factors |
| abandonment | termination of care without consent or transfer to an equal or higher level of provider |
| advance directives | orders regarding care to be given in certain emergency situations |
| assault | threatening or attempting to inflict offensive physical contact |
| battery | offensive touching of a person without his/her consent |
| duty to act | legal obligation to provide care when opportunity exists |
| expressed consent | condition in which the patient agrees and gives permission for treatment |
| implied consent | condition to provide care when a patient is physically, mentally, or emotionally unable to consent |
| negligence | failure to act in a resonable and prudent manner |
| scope of practice | duties and skills that can be performed by an EMT |
| standard of care | minumum acceptable level of treatment within a community |
| accessory breathing muscles | used in respiratory distress to draw more air into the lungs |
| adrenaline | a hormone that helps prepare the body for emergencies |
| anatomic position | standing upright with feet, palms, eyes facing forward |
| bilateral | the right and left sides of the body relative to each other |
| blood pressure | a measure of the force exerted against the arterial walls |
| breath sounds | sound made by air moving in and out of the lungs |
| central pulse | a pulse point in or near the trunk |
| heart rate | number of heart beats in 1 minute |
| hemoglobin | carries oxygen in blood and releases it when it reaches the tissue |
| hormones | regulate body activities and functions in many body systems |
| insulin | hormone crucial for the body's use of sugar |
| intercostal muscles | muscles between each rib that move with breathing |
| midaxillary line | line form the armpits to the ankles, dividing the body in halves |
| midclavicular line | two lines dividing the collar bone in two, extending through the nipples |
| midline | line through the middle of the body through the nose and umbilicus |
| perfusion | the process of circulating blood, delivering oxygen, and removing waste |
| peripheral pulse | a pulse point in an extremity |
| platelets | blood component that plays a role in clotting |
| red blood cells | blood cells containing hemoglobin |
| sutures | joints between the skull bones |
| thorax | bone structure composed of 12 pairs of ribs and the sternum |
| tidal volume | the volume of air per breath |
| white blood cells | body defense against infection |
| accessory muscle | additional muscle used to breathe by patients in respiratory distress |
| capillary refill | amount of time required for blood to return to vessels after applying pressure |
| crowing | a long, high-pitched sound when breathing in |
| diastolic blood pressure | measurement of pressure against the arteries when the heart is at rest |
| grunting | sound made when exhaling forcefully against a closed glottis |
| gurgling | sound made when there is liquid in the airway |
| history | a concise and inclusive set of information the EMT gathers about the patient |
| labored respirations | an increase in the effort expended to breathe |
| noisy respirations | any sound coming from the patient's airway; indicates a problem |
| normal respirations | respirations without noise or effort; occur at a rate of 12-20 per minute in adult patients |
| reactive to light | referring to pupil constriction when exposed to light |
| shallow respirations | low volumes of air on inspiration and expiration |
| sign | a condition that can be observed and identified in the patient |
| snoring | sound made because of the tongue falling back and partially obstructing the airway |
| stridor | a loud, high-pitched airway moise that usually occurs during inspiration, can indicate obstruction |
| symptoms | a nonobservable condition described by the patient |
| systolic blood pressure | measurement of pressure against the arteries when the heart contracts |
| trending | comparing sets of vital signs over time |
| wheezing | high-pitched whistling sound caused by constriction of the smaller airways |
| body mechanics | principles of movement used during lifting and moving |
| emergency move | a move required when there is danger to the crew or patient if the patient is not moved |
| nonurgent move | a move used when there are no immediate threats |
| power grip | hand position providing maximum force to the object being lifted |
| recovery position | left-lateral recumbent position, used for unresponsive, nontrauma patients |
| urgent move | a patient move used when the patient's condition may become life threatening |
| airway | respiratory system structures through which air passes |
| alveoli | the air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange takes place |
| bag-valve-mask (BVM) | ventilation device with a bag, a one-way valve, and a mask |
| bronchi | the two major branches of the trachea into each lung |
| cricoid ring | a firm cartilage ring just inferior to lower portion of the larynx |
| diaphragm | muscle separating the thoracic from the abdominal cavity |
| epiglottis | prevents food and liquid from entering the trachea |
| gag reflex | causes the patient to retch when the throat is stimulated |
| glottis | the passageway into the trachea from the pharynx |
| intercostal muscles | muscles located between the ribs that move with breathing |
| jaw thrust | opening the airway by displacing the mandible forward |
| laryngectomy | surgical procedure in which the larynx is removed |
| larynx | voice box; consists of cartilage that vibrates when we speak |
| nasal cannula | device for delivering oxygen from tubing into nostrils |
| nasopharyngeal airway | flexible tube inserted into the mostril to provide an air passage |
| nasopharynx | part of the pharynx behind the nose |
| nonrebreather mask | high-flow device for delivering oxygen to the patient |
| oropharyngeal airway | inserted into mouth to lift the tongue out of the oropharynx |
| oropharynx | the part of the airway behind the mouth |
| pharynx | the part of the airway behind the nose and mouth |
| suction devices | devices that remove secretions and fluids from the airway |
| trachea | the windpipe |
| tracheal stoma | permanent artifical opening in the trachea |
| mechanism of injury | event or forces that caused the damage to the patient |
| nature of illness | patient's description of the chief complaint, or why EMS was called |
| scene size-up | evaluation of the entire envirnoment for possible risks to yourself, crew members, patients, or bystanders |
| Crepitation | grating or crackling sound or sensation |
| DCAP-BTLS | acronym standing for the eight components of assessment |
| distal pulse | pulse taken away from the center of the body (ie, wrist) |
| Iliac wings | anteriosuperior tips of the pelvis |
| jugular vein distention | abnormal enlargement of the blood vessels of the sides of the neck |
| motor function | testing the ability to move |
| multitiered response system | system in which care is provided at basic and advanced levels |
| paradoxical motion | abnormal movement of the chest wall during inspiration and exhalation in which the affected portion moves opposite the unaffected portion |
| sensation | ability to feel a touch against the skin |
| OPQRST | acronym for elicting patient information about a particular condition |
| provocation | term referring to something that induces a physical reacton |
| rapid assessment | quick evaluation of the patient, accomplished in 60 to 90 seconds |
| SAMPLE history | acronym used to evaluate a patient's past medical conditions and current events |
| base station | radio transceiver located at a stationary site, such as a hospital, mountain top, or dispatch center |
| communication | tranmission or exchange of information, ideas, and skills through language, body movements, ect. |
| encoders and decoders | digital radio equipment that allows the user to block out radio transmissions that are not intended for that unit |
| repeater | remote receiver that receives transmission froma low-power portable or mobile radio on one frequency and then transmits the signal at a higher power, other on another frequency |
| administrative information | elements such as time of dispatch and location of call related to the prehospital care call |
| minimum data set | essential elements of patient and administrative data required for accurate and complete prehospital data collection |
| patient information | elements such as patient's clinical condition and chief complaint related to the prehospital care call |
| patient narrative | section of a prehospital case report that allows EMT to document information using a standard medical reporting format |
| prehospital case report | form used to document the events occurring during a patient encounter |
| trending | process of comparing serial recordings of a patient's vital signs or other assessments to note changes |
| contraindication | situation in which a medication should not be used |
| dose | amount of medication that should be administered |
| drug | any substance that alters the body's functioning when taken into the body |
| generic name | name of a medication listed in the U.S. Pharmacopeia, the offical name assigned to the medication |
| indication | condition for which a medication may be used |
| inhalation | route of administration for mediations in the form of a fine mist or gas |
| mechanism of action | how a medication affects the body |
| pharmacology | science of drugs and study of their origin, ingredients, uses, and actions on the body |
| route of administration | way the medication is administered to the patient |
| sublingual route | putting a medication under the patient's tongue |
| trade name | name assigned by the company that sells the medication |
| angina | discomfort felt when the heart does not receive enough oxygen |
| diastolic blood pressure | measurement of the pressure in an artery when the ventricles are at rest |
| electrodes | remote pads attached to the debibrillator and the patient to monitor the electrical activity of the heart |
| ischemia | decreased oxygen supply to an area of tissue |
| peripheral | term referring to the extremities |
| pulse | pressure wave felt in an artery when the left ventricle contracts |
| systolic blood pressure | measurement of the pressure in an artery when the ventricles are contracting |
| ventricular fibrillation | chaotic electrical rhythm in the ventricles, with no contraction of the ventricles and no pulse |
| ventricular tachycardia | three or more heart beats in a row at 100 beats or more per minute originating in the ventricles |
| Iliac | pelvis |
| coronary | heart |
| pulmonary | lungs |
| carotid | neck |
| brachial | arm |
| femoral | groin |
| radial | wrist |
| dorsalis pedis | foot |
| altered mental status | state of mind in which the patient is not oriented to person, place or time (not necessarily all three together) |
| diabetes mellitus | disease that prevents insulin from being produced |
| glucose | form of sugar that is converted into usable energy |
| hypoglycemia | low level of sugar in the blood |
| insulin-dependent | diabetic patient who requires hormone injections for the body to use sugar |
| seizure | rapid discharge of nerve cells in the brain causing muscular contractions |
| absorbed toxin | toxin that enters the body through the skin |
| activated charcoal | medication that medical direction may authorize for management of poisoning caused by an ingested toxin |
| ingested toxin | toxin that is consumed orally |
| inhaled toxin | toxin that is breathed into the lungs where it is absorbed into the bloodstream |
| injected toxin | toxin that enters the body through a puncture in the skin |
| toxin | substance that produces adverse effects when it enters the body |
| conduction | transfer of heat directly from one object to another |
| convection | transfer of heat to moving air or liquid |
| evaporation | transfer of heat that occurs when a liquid changes into a gas |
| hyperthermia | condition in which the body temperature is above normal (98.6 degrees F or 38 degrees C) |
| hypothermia | condition in which the body temperature is below normal (98.6 degrees F or 38 degrees C) |
| radiation | loss of heat, in the form of infrared energy, to cooler surroundings |
| thermoregulatory emergency | any condition involving a significant change in temperature of the body |
| abnormal behavior | actions exhibited by a person that is outside of the norm for the situation and is socially unacceptable |
| behavioral emergency | situation in which a person acts in a manner that is unacceptable or intolorable to the person, family members, or the community |
| domestic dispute | form of violence that results from a family argument and may result in abuse of spouse or children |
| psychotic | refers to behavior by a person who has lost touch with reality |
| resonable force | power necessary to keep a person from injuring him/herself or others |
| abortion | medical term for amy delivery or removal of a human fetus before it can live on its own |
| amniotic sac | membrance forming a closed, fluid-filled pouch around a developing fetus |
| birth canal | the lower part of the uterus and the vagina |
| bloody show | expulsion of the mucous plug as the cervix dilates |
| breech presentation | presentation of the baby's feet or buttocks first in delivery |
| caesarean section | surgical delivery in which the muscles of the abdomen are cut and the baby is delivered through the abdomen |
| cephalic | presentation of baby's head first in delivery |
| cervix | neck of the uterus |
| crowning | stage in which the head of the baby is seen at the vaginal opening |
| fetus | an unborn, developing baby |
| meconium | fetal stool that may be present in the amniotic fluid |
| miscarriage | spontaneous delivery of a human fetus before it is able to live on it own |
| perineum | area of skin between the vagina and anus |
| placenta | fetal and materal organ through which the fetus absorbs oxygen and nutrients and excretes wastes |
| presenting part | area of fetus that appears at the vaginal opening first |
| prolapsed cord | situation in which the umbilical cord delivers through the vagina before any presenting part |
| umbilical cord | connects the placenta to the fetus |
| uterus | female reproductive organ in which a baby grows and developes |
| vagina | the canal that leads from the uterus to the external opening in women |
| capillary refill | measure of the perfusion of the skin in a child under 6 years of age |
| circumferential pressure | pressure around an extremity |
| epistaxis | bleeding from the nose |
| hemorrhagic shock | hypoperfusion that results from bleeding |
| hypoperfusion | state that results when cells are not receiving adequate blood flow |
| hypovolemic shock | hypoperfusion that results from an inadequate volume of blood |
| perfusion | process of delivering oxygen and nutrients to, and removing metabolic waste products from, the body's cells |
| pressure point | place in an extremity where a major artery lies close to a bone |
| shock | hypoperfusion |
| abrasion | open soft-tissue injury resulting brom a scraping force |
| amputation | removal of an appendage from the body |
| avulsion | flap of skin that is torn or pulled loose |
| bandage | material used to secure a dressing in place |
| contusion | type of closed soft-tissue injury; a bruise |
| crush injury | open or closed soft-tissue injury |
| dressing | sterile material used to control bleeding and protect soft-tissue injury |
| evisceration | open wound in the abdomen through which organs are protruding |
| full-thickness burn | burn that affects all layers of the skin |
| hematoma | closed soft-tissue injury where large blood vessels are injured, with 1 L or more of blood under the skin |
| laceration | break in the skin of varying depth caused by a sharp object; a cut |
| occlusive | referring to protection from air |
| partial-thickness burn | burn that affects the epidermis and dermis |
| penetration or puncture | open soft-tissue injury caused by an object being pushed into skin |
| superficial burn | burn that affects only the epidermis |
| angulation | injury that is deformed (bent) at the site |
| closed injury | injury that does not break the continuity of the skin |
| crepitation | sound made when bone ends rub together or when there is air inside the tissue |
| direct injury | injury that results from a force that comes into direct contact with an area of the body |
| indirect injury | injury in one body area that results from a force that comes into contact with a different part of the body |
| mechanism of injury | force that acts on the body to produce an injury |
| open injury | injury that breaks the continuity of the skin |
| pneumatic splints | devices such as air or vacuum splints that conform to the injury |
| position of function | relaxed position of the hand or foot in which there is minimal movement or stretching of muscle |
| rigid splints | type of splint that does not conform to the body |
| sling and swathe | bandaging used to immobilize a shoulder or arm injury |
| traction spllnts | special device used to immobilize a closed midfemur injury |
| twisting injury | injury that results from a turning motion of the body in opposite directions |
| cervical spine immobilization device | device used to maintain immobilizaton of the head and neck |
| Kendrick Extrication Device (KED) | type of short board used to immobilize a seated patient |
| long backboard | a full-body spinal immobilization device |
| log roll | method used to move a lying patient onto a longboard |
| rapid extrication | technique used to rapidly move a patient from a scene |
| short backboard | device used to maintain immobilization of the head, neck, and torso |
| adolescent | child 12 to 18 years old |
| blow-by-oxygen | method of oxygen delivery for infants and children without placing a mask on the face |
| central lines | intravenous lines surgically placed near the heart for long-term use |
| child abuse | improper or excessive action by parents, guardians, or caretakers that injures or causes harm to children |
| drowning | death from suffocation within the first 24 hours of submersion in liquid |
| gastric tube | used for feeding, way to place food directly into the stomach |
| grunting | sound made when patient in respiratory distress attempts to trap air to keep alveoli open |
| infant | child less than 1 year of age |
| nasal flaring | attempt by the infant to increase the size of the airway by expanding the nostrils |
| near drowning | survival past 24 hours after suffocation due to submersion |
| neglect | act of not giving attention to a child's essential needs |
| newborn | term for an infant from birth to 1 month of age |
| preschool child | child from 3 to 5 years of age |
| respiratory failure | clinical condition when the patient is continuing to work hard to breathe, the effort of breathing is increased, and the patient's condition begins to deteriorate |
| respiratory distress | clinical condition in which the infant or child begins to increase the work of breathing |
| retractions | use of accessory muscles to increase the work of breathing |
| school-age child | child from 6 to 12 years of age |
| secondard drowning | rapid deterioration of respiratory status from severla hours to 96 hours after resuscitation |
| shunt | tube running from the brain to the abdomen to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid |
| Sudden Infant Death Syndrome | sudden, unexplained death of an infant with no discernable cause |
| toddler | child 1 to 3 years of age |
| decontamination | use of physical or chemical means to remove, inactiviate, or destroy blood-borne pathogens on a surface or item so that it can no longer transmit infection |
| disinfectant | process of killing microoganisms on a surface or item |
| due regard | principle that a resonable and careful person in simuliar circumstances would act in a way that is safe and considerate for others |
| escort | another emergency vehicle that accompanies the ambulance to the scene |
| infection control | measures that EMTs take to help prevent the transmission of infection from patient to EMTs, from one patient to another, and from EMTs to patients |
| sterilization | disinfecting process that destroys all microorganisms including bacterial spores |
| extrication sector | sector in the incident management system responsible for dealing with extrication of patients who are trapped at the scene |
| hazardous material | any substance or material that can pose an unreasonable risk to health, safety, or property |
| incident management system | system for coordinating procedures to assist in the control, direction, and coordination of emergency response resources |
| placard | information sign with symbols and numbers to assist in identifying the hazardous material or class of material |
| material safety data sheets | information sheets required gy the US Department of Labor that list properties and hazards associated with chemicals and compounds to assist in management of incidents involving them |
| staging sector | sector in the incident management system that coordinates with the transportation sector for the movement of vehicles to and from the transportation sector |
| support and supply sector | sector in the incident management system responsibel for obtaiing additional resources including disposable supplies, personnel, and equipment for other sectors |
| transportation sector | sector in the incident management system that coordinates resources including receiving hopsitals, air medical resources, and ambulances |
| treatment sector | sector in the incident management system that provides care to patients received from the triage and extrication sectors |
| triage | method of categorizing patients into treatment or transport priorities |
| triage sector | optional sector in the incident management system that prioritizes patients for treatment or transport |
| apices of the lungs | tops of the lungs, lying just under the clavicles bilaterally |
| apneic | term referring to patient who are not breathing |
| bases of the lungs | bottoms of the lungs, lying approximately at the level of the sixth rib |
| carina | point at which the trachea divides into the two mainstem bronchi |
| compliance | measure of the elasticity of the lungs |
| direct laryngoscopy | process of placing an endotracheal tube into the trachea while visualizing the glottic opening with a laryngoscope |
| endotracheal tube | tube placed into the trachea to increase the delivery of oxygen to the lungs and decrease the possibility of aspiration |
| epigastrium | area over the stomach |
| extubation | removal of tube |
| gastric distention | accumulation of air in the stomach, which places pressure on the diaphragm, making artifical ventilation difficult and increasing the possibility of vomiting |
| glottic opening | anatomic space between the vocal cords, leading to the trachea |
| laryngoscope | instrument used to visualize the airway during endotracheal intubation |
| mainstem brronchi | two branches from the trachea to the lungs |
| murphy's eye | small hole in the side of an endotracheal tube that provides a passage of air if the tip of the tube becomes clogged |
| nasogastric tube | tube placed through the nose, down the esophagus, and into the stomach |
| orotracheal intubation | process of inserting an endotrancheal tube through the mouth |
| pulse oximetry | process of indirectly measuring the amount of exygen carried in the blood |
| self-extubation | patient's intentional or unintentional removal of tube |
| sternal notch | anatomic location created by the clavicles and the sternum |
| stylet | bendable device placed in the endotracheal tube, giving it rigidity and enabling it ot hold a shape |
| vallecula | anatomic space between the base of the tongue and the epiglottis |
| direct injury | fist to the jaw |
| twisting injury | running back tackled after turning from a catch |
| indirect injury | interal organs against the chest in an automobile crash |
