Emergency Care, Safety, and Medical Terminology

Vocabulary flashcards generated from lecture notes covering emergency care, workplace safety, and medical terms.

Emesis

The act of vomiting, or ejecting stomach contents.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Organization responsible for safety of employees at work; requires facilities to have a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for every dangerous chemical used.

PASS

Acronym for using a fire extinguisher: pull the pin, aim low, squeeze the handle, sweep from side to side.

RACE

Acronym for fire emergency procedures: remove anyone from danger, activate alarm or call 911, contain the fire if possible, extinguish the fire or fire department will.

Alignment

Trying to keep the body in alignment with two sides of the body as mirror images of each other.

Base of support

Standing with legs shoulder width apart.

Epilepsy

Brain disorder that results from a disruption in normal electrical impulse in brain.

Epistaxis

Nosebleed.

Ergonomic

Science of designing equipment, areas.

First aid

Emergency care given immediately.

Hypoglycemia

Complication of diabetes (insulin reaction) caused by too much insulin and not enough food; symptoms include weakness and nervousness.

Myocardial infarction (MI)

Condition that occurs when the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen.

Obstructed airway

Condition in which something is blocking the tube.

Orthostatic hypotension

Sudden drop in blood pressure that occurs when a person stands or sits up.

Shock

Condition that occurs when organs and tissue in the body do not receive blood supply.

Syncope

Loss of consciousness.

Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

Warning sign of a CVA/stroke resulting from a temporary lack of blood supply.

1st degree burns

Burns involving just the outer layer of skin.

2nd degree burns

Burns involving the outer layer of skin to the next deeper layer of skin.

3rd degree burns

Burns involving all 3 layers of skin and may extend to bone.

BE FAST

Mnemonic for signs of stroke: Balance, Eyes, Face, Arm, Speech, Time.

Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)

Complication of diabetes caused by having too much insulin in the body; symptoms include increased hunger, thirst, and urination.

Signs of a Seizure

Severe shaking, jaw clenching, thrusting arms, and inability to swallow.

Abdominal thrust

Method of attempting to remove an object from the airway of someone who is choking.

Aerosolized

Disperse a substance through the air that might be inhaled.

Automated external defibrillator (AED)

Device attached to a patient to analyze heart rhythm and deliver shock.

Body mechanics

Way parts of body work together when person moves.

Brachial pulse

Pulse located inside the elbow.

Carotid pulse

Pulse located on side of neck.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

Medical procedures used when a person's heart or lungs stop working.

Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)

Condition that occurs when blood supply to a part of the brain is blocked or a blood vessel leaks.

Dosimeter

Badge that measures radiation exposure.