Common Medical Terminology and Abbreviations

AAA

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

ABG

Arterial Blood Gas

ACO

Ambulance Communications Officer

ACP

Advanced Care Paramedic

ACR

Ambulance Call Report (Paperwork)

ADL

Activities of Daily Living

AFib/AF

Atrial fibrillation

ALS

Advanced Life Support / Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Neuromuscular degenerative disease)

(L)AMA

(Left) Against Medical Advice

Anisocoria

Unequal pupil sizes

A&O

Alert and oriented

A/P

Anterior-Posterior

ARDS

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

ASA

Acetylsalicylic Acid (Aspirin)

ASAP

As soon as possible

ASD

Autistic Spectrum Disorder

b.i.d

Twice daily

BLS

Basic Life Support

BM

Bowel Movement

BP

Blood pressure

BVM

Bag Valve Mask

CA

Cancer

Ca/Ca2+

Calcium

CABG

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

CACC

Central Ambulance Communications Centre (Dispatch)

CAD

Coronary Artery Disease

CBC

Complete Blood Count

CC

Chief complaint

CCP

Critical Care Paramedic

CCTC

Critical Care Trauma Centre

CCU

Coronary Care Unit/Cardiac Care Unit

CHF

Congestive Heart Failure

CKD

Chronic Kidney Disease

CNO

Could Not Obtain

CNS

Central Nervous System

c/o

Complains of

CO

Carbon Monoxide

CO2

Carbon Dioxide

Contraindicated

Should NOT be performed

COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

CPAP

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure

CPR

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

CSF

Cerebrospinal Fluid

CSM

Colour, Sensation, Movement

CT

Computed Tomography

CTAS

Canadian Triage & Acuity Scale

CVA

Cerebrovascular Accident

CXR

Chest X-Ray

DM

Diabetes Mellitus

DNR

Do Not Resuscitate

DOA

Dead on Arrival

DOB

Date of Birth

d/t

due to

Dx

Diagnosis

ECG

Electrocardiogram

ED

Emergency Department

EEG

Electroencephalogram

EENT

Eyes, Ears, Nose & Throat

EF

Ejection Fraction (Heart)

ER

Emergency Room

ETOH

Alcohol (ethanol)

ET

Endotracheal

ETA

Estimated Time of Arrival

ETCO2

End-Tidal CO2 measurement

ETT

Endotracheal Tube

EVT

Endovascular Therapy

FBAO

Foreign Body Airway Obstruction

FD

Fire Dept

FHx

Family History

Fx or #

Fracture (broken bone)

GCS

Glasgow Coma Scale

GERD

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

GI

Gastrointestinal

GP

General Practitioner

GSW

Gunshot Wound

H/A

Headache

Hb/Hgb

Haemoglobin

H2O

Water

h/o

History of

HR

Heart Rate

HTN

Hypertension (chronic high blood pressure – diagnosed by doctor)

Hx

History

ICP

Intracranial Pressure

ICU

Intensive Care Unit

IDDM

Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

IM

Intramuscular

IN

Intranasal

Indicated

Should or can be performed

IO

Intraosseous

Irr

Irregular

IV

Intravenous

K/K+

Potassium

LAD

Left Anterior Descending (Coronary Artery)

LCA

Left Coronary Artery

LLQ

Left Lower Quadrant (Abdo)

LMA

Laryngeal Mask Airway

LOC

Loss of consciousness/Level of consciousness

LTC

Long-Term Care Facility

LUQ

Left Upper Quadrant (Abdo)

LV

Left Ventricle