EMR Definitions

abandonment

Failure of the emergency medical responder to continue emergency medical treatment until relieved by someone with the same or a higher level of training.

abdomen

The body cavity between the thorax and the pelvis that contains the major organs of digestion and excretion.

abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA)

A condition in which the layers of the aorta in the abdomen weaken. This causes blood to leak between the layers of the artery, causing it to bulge and sometimes rupture.

abdominal breathing

Breathing using only the diaphragm.

abrasion

Loss or damage of skin as a result of a body part being rubbed or scraped across a rough or hard surface.

absence seizures

Seizures characterized by a brief lapse of attention. The patient may stare and not respond; formerly known as petit mal seizures.

acid

A chemical substance with a pH level of less than 7.0 that can cause severe burns.

acute abdomen

The sudden onset of abdominal pain caused by disease or trauma that irritates the lining of the abdominal cavity and requires immediate medical or surgical treatment.

advance directive

A legal document that indicates what a person wants done if he or she cannot make his or her own medical decisions. Advance directives include living wills, durable powers of attorney for health care, and do not resuscitate orders.

advanced emergency medical technician (AEMT)

A person who is able to perform basic life support skills and limited advanced life support skills.

advanced life support (ALS)

The use of specialized equipment and specialized techniques to stabilize a patient's condition.

air embolism

A bubble of air obstructing a blood vessel.

airway

The passages from the openings of the mouth and nose to the air sacs in the lungs through which air enters and leaves the lungs.

airway obstruction

Partial or complete obstruction of the respiratory passages resulting from blockage by food, small objects, or vomitus.

altered mental status

A sudden or gradual decrease in a person's level of responsiveness, measured using the AVPU scale.

alveolar ventilation

The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide that occurs in the alveoli.

alveoli

The air sacs of the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.

Alzheimer disease

A chronic, progressive dementia that accounts for 60% of all dementia.

amphetamines

Stimulants that produce a general mood elevation, improve task performance, suppress appetite, or prevent sleepiness.

anaphylactic shock

Shock caused by an extreme allergic reaction to certain foods, medications, or insect bites and stings.

angina pectoris

Chest pain with squeezing or tightness in the chest caused by an inadequate flow of blood to the heart muscle.

anterior

The front surface of the body.

antivenin

A serum that counteracts the effect of venom from an animal or insect.

anus

The distal or terminal ending of the gastrointestinal tract.

appropriate medical facility

A hospital or medical clinic with adequate medical resources to provide continuing care to sick or injured patients who are transported after field treatment by emergency medical responders.

arm

The upper portion of the upper extremity, from the shoulder to the elbow.

arm

to

arterial bleeding

Serious bleeding from an artery in which blood frequently pulses or spurts from an open wound.

aspiration

Breathing in foreign matter such as food, drink, or vomitus into the airway or lungs.

aspirator

A suction device.

assessment

based care

asthma

A disease in which the airway becomes narrowed and inflamed, resulting in episodes of shortness of breath because of air being trapped in the small air sacs of the lungs.

atherosclerosis

A disease characterized by thickening and destruction of the arterial walls caused by fatty deposits within them; the arteries lose the ability to dilate and carry blood.

atria

The two upper chambers of the heart.

auscultation

Listening to sounds with a stethoscope.

automated external defibrillator (AED)

A portable battery

AVPU scale

A scale to measure a patient's level of consciousness. The letters stand for Alert, Verbal, Pain, and Unresponsive.

avulsion

An injury in which a piece of skin is torn completely loose or is left hanging as a flap.

backboard

A straight board used for splinting, extricating, and transporting patients with suspected spinal injuries.

bag of waters

The amniotic sac and fluid that surround the fetus before birth.

bag

mask device

bariatric

Relating to or specializing in the prevention and treatment of obesity.

base

A chemical with a pH level greater than 7.0. Bases are also called caustics or alkalis.

base station

A powerful two

basic life support (BLS)

Emergency life

bath salts

The common name for certain types of synthetic stimulant

behavioral emergency

A situation in which the patient exhibits abnormal behavior that is unacceptable or cannot be tolerated by the patient, family, friends, or community.

biologic agents

Naturally occurring substances that cause disease. Terrorists may use bacteria, viruses, or toxins to intentionally cause epidemics of disease.

birth canal

The vagina and the lower part of the uterus.

blanket drag

An emergency move in which a rescuer encloses a patient in a blanket and drags the patient to safety.

blister agents

Chemicals that cause the skin to blister.

blood pressure

The pressure of the circulating blood against the walls of the arteries.

bloody show

The plug of mucus that is discharged from the vagina when labor begins.

bounding pulse

A strong pulse similar to the pulse that follows physical exertion such as running or lifting heavy objects.

brachial artery pressure point

Pressure point located in the arm between the elbow and the shoulder; also used in obtaining blood pressure and checking the pulse in infants.

brachial pulse

The pulse located on the arm between the elbow and shoulder; used for checking the pulse in infants.

breech presentation

A delivery in which the newborn's buttocks appear in the birth canal first, rather than the head.

bronchi

The two main branches of the trachea that lead into the right and left lungs. Within the lungs, they branch into smaller airways.

bronchitis

Inflammation of the airways in the lungs.

bruise

Injury caused by a blunt object striking the body and crushing the tissue beneath the skin. Also called a contusion.

capillaries

The smallest blood vessels that connect small arteries and small veins. Capillary walls serve as the membrane to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide.

capillary bleeding

Bleeding from the capillaries in which blood oozes from the open wound.

capillary refill

The ability of the circulatory system to restore blood to capillary blood vessels after it has been squeezed out by the examiner.

carbon dioxide

The gas formed as a waste product of metabolism and excreted through the respiratory system during exhalation.

carbon monoxide

A colorless, odorless, tasteless, poisonous gas formed by incomplete combustion, such as in a fire.

cardiac arrest

Cessation of breathing and heartbeat.

cardiogenic shock

Shock resulting from inadequate functioning of the heart.

cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

The artificial circulation of blood and movement of air into and out of the lungs in a pulseless, nonbreathing patient.

carotid artery

The principal arteries of the neck; they supply blood to the face, head, and brain.

carotid pulse

A pulse that can be felt on each side of the neck where the carotid artery is close to the skin.

cartilage

A tough, elastic form of connective tissue that covers the ends of most bones to form joints; also found in areas such as the nose and ears.

casualty sorting

The sorting of patients to determine the order in which patients should be treated and transported.

central nervous system (CNS)

The brain and spinal cord.

cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

A clear, watery, straw

certification

The process by which a person, institution, or program is evaluated and recognized as meeting certain standards to ensure safe and ethical patient care.

cervical collar

A neck brace that partially immobilizes the neck following injury.

cervical spine

The section of the spinal column consisting of the seven vertebrae located in the neck.

channel

An assigned frequency or frequencies used to carry voice and/or data communications.

chemical agents

Compounds that can be used by terrorists to inflict harm.

chemical burns

Burns that occur when any toxic substance comes in contact with the skin. Most chemical burns are caused by strong acids or alkalis.

chest compressions

A means of applying artificial circulation by applying rhythmic pressure and relaxation on the lower half of the sternum; also called external cardiac compressions.

chest

thrust maneuver

chief complaint

The patient's response to questions such as "What happened?" or "What's wrong?"

child

A person between the age of 1 year and the onset of puberty, about age 12 to 14 years.

chocking

Placing a piece of wood or metal in front of or behind a wheel to prevent vehicle movement.

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

A slow process of destruction of the airways, alveoli, and pulmonary blood vessels caused by chronic bronchial obstruction.

circulatory system

The heart and blood vessels, which together are responsible for the continuous flow of blood throughout the body.

clavicle

The collarbone.

closed fracture

A fracture in which the overlying skin has not been damaged.

closed head injury

Injury where there is bleeding and/or swelling within the skull.

closed wound

Injury in which soft

clothes drag

An emergency move used to remove a patient from a hazardous environment by grasping the patient's clothes and moving the patient head first from the unsafe area.

cocaine

A powerful stimulant that induces an extreme state of euphoria. Legitimately, it is a potent local anesthetic. On the street, it is commonly known as coke. Crack cocaine, crack, or rock is a solid, smokable form of cocaine.

coccyx

The tailbone; the small bone at the base of the spinal column.

cold zone

The control area that contains the command post and other support functions needed in the incident.

coma

A state of unconsciousness from which the patient cannot be aroused.

communication

The transmission of information to another person or people.

competent

Able to make rational decisions about personal well

concussion

A closed head injury that alters the way the brain functions; symptoms include headache, loss of memory, and confusion. Also called a mild traumatic brain injury.

congestive heart failure (CHF)

Heart disease characterized by breathlessness, fluid retention in the lungs, and generalized swelling of the body.