EMT Abbreviations and Mnemonics

AAA

abdominal aortic aneurysm

ABC

airway, breathing, circulation

ACLS

Advanced Cardiac Life Support

ACS

acute coronary syndrome

AED

Automated External Defibrillator

AICD

automatic implanted cardiac defibrillator

AIDS

acquired immune deficiency syndrome

ALS

Advanced Life Support

AMA

against medical advice

AMI

acute myocardial infarction

AMS

altered mental status

ARDS

acute respiratory destress syndrome

ASA

aspirin

AVPU

alert verbal painful unresponsive

A&O x 3

alert & oriented to person, place, and time

A&O x 4

alert & oriented to person, place, time, and event

BID

two times a day

BSI

Body substance isolation

BP

blood pressure

BS

breath sounds

BVM

bag valve mask

CA

cancer

CAD

coronary artery disease

HHNS

hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketoic syndrome

HR

heart rate

HS / hs

hours of sleep

HTN

hypertension

Hx

history

ICD

implanted cardiac defibrillator

ICP

intracranial pressure

ICS

intercostal space

IM

intramuscular

IV

intravenous

JVD

jugular vein distention

LBB

long back board

LLQ

left lower quadrant

LMC

last menstrual cycle

LUQ

left upper quadrant

LVAD

left ventricular assist device

MCI

multiple-casualty incident / mass casualty incident

MDI

metered dose inhaler

MI

myocardial infarction

MOI

mechanism of injury

MSDS

material safety data sheet

NC

nasal cannula

NG

nasogastric tube

NKA

no known allergies

NKDA

no known drug allergies

RLQ

right lower quadrant

RUQ

right upper quadrant

SARS

severe acute respiratory syndrome

SCA

sickle cell anemia

SIDS

sudden infant death syndrome

sl

sublingual

SLUDGE

salivation, lacrimation, urination, defecation, GI upset, emesis, miosis

SOB

shortness of breath

SpO2

oxygen saturation

SVN

small volume nebulizer

TB

tuberculosis

TBI

traumatic brain injury

TIA

transient ischemic attack

TID

three times a day

UA

upon arrival

UTI

urinary tract infection

VAD

ventricular assist device

VF

ventricular fibrillation