EMT and NREMT Acronyms: Assessment, Trauma, and Emergencies

ABC

Airway; Breathing; Circulation

MARCH

Massive hemorrhage; Airway; Respiration; Circulation; Hypothermia/Head injury

AVPU

Alert; Verbal; Painful; Unresponsive

SAMPLE

Signs/Symptoms; Allergies; Medications; Past history; Last oral intake; Events leading up

OPQRST

Onset; Provocation; Quality; Radiation; Severity; Time

DCAP-BTLS

Deformities; Contusions; Abrasions; Punctures/Penetrations; Burns; Tenderness; Lacerations; Swelling

BE-FAST

Balance; Eyes; Face droop; Arm weakness; Speech difficulty; Time

GCS

Glasgow Coma Scale (eyes/verbal/motor; total 3-15)

APGAR

Appearance; Pulse; Grimace; Activity; Respiration

PERRL

Pupils Equal/Round/Reactive to Light

PPE

Personal Protective Equipment

BSI

Body Substance Isolation

MOI

Mechanism of Injury

NOI

Nature of Illness

CC

Chief Complaint

HPI

History of Present Illness

PMH

Past Medical History

LOC

Level of Consciousness / Loss of Consciousness

MCI

Mass Casualty Incident

START

Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment

BLS

Basic Life Support

ALS

Advanced Life Support

EMS

Emergency Medical Services

EMR

Emergency Medical Responder

NREMT

National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians

HIPAA

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

DNR

Do Not Resuscitate

POLST

Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment

CPR

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation

AED

Automated External Defibrillator

BVM

Bag-Valve-Mask

NRB

Non-Rebreather mask

NPA

Nasopharyngeal Airway

OPA

Oropharyngeal Airway

ROSC

Return of Spontaneous Circulation

VF

Ventricular Fibrillation

VT

Ventricular Tachycardia

PEA

Pulseless Electrical Activity

SVT

Supraventricular Tachycardia

MI

Myocardial Infarction

STEMI

ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

ACS

Acute Coronary Syndrome

CHF

Congestive Heart Failure

COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

CVA

Cerebrovascular Accident (stroke)

TIA

Transient Ischemic Attack

PE

Pulmonary Embolism

DVT

Deep Vein Thrombosis

AAA

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

DKA

Diabetic Ketoacidosis

TBI

Traumatic Brain Injury

JVD

Jugular Vein Distention

SOB

Shortness of Breath

DOE

Dyspnea on Exertion

N/V/D

Nausea; Vomiting; Diarrhea

ETOH

Ethanol (alcohol)

GSW

Gunshot Wound

MVC

Motor Vehicle Collision

SpO2

Peripheral oxygen saturation

EtCO2

End-tidal carbon dioxide

BGL

Blood Glucose Level

SIDS

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

CNS

Central Nervous System

GI

Gastrointestinal

GU

Genitourinary