City of Phoenix Fire Department Paramedic Candidate Competencies

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering medical terminology, pathophysiological mechanisms, clinical presentations, and treatment standards from the City of Phoenix Fire Department Paramedic Candidate examination guide.

Backboard

A flat, rigid device used to immobilize and support a patient with suspected spinal, neck, or back injuries during transport to maintain spinal alignment and prevent further injury.

Tension pneumothorax

A life-threatening condition occurring when air accumulates in the pleural space and cannot escape, causing lung collapse, severe respiratory distress, and circulatory compromise requiring needle decompression or chest tube placement.

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS)

A group of conditions associated with sudden, reduced blood flow to the heart muscle, encompassing medical emergencies such as unstable angina and myocardial infarction.

Alcohol

A central nervous system depressant that is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream and impairs brain function, leading to impaired judgment, decreased coordination, and altered mental status.

Angina pectoris

Transient (temporary) chest pain or discomfort caused by reduced blood flow (ischemia) to the heart muscle without permanent damage.

Stable angina

Chest discomfort triggered by exertion or stress that is relieved by rest or nitroglycerin.

Unstable angina

Chest pain occurring at rest, or an established pattern of chest pain that is progressively worsening or becoming more frequent.

Pulmonary edema

The accumulation of fluid in the alveoli of the lungs that impairs gas exchange, leading to hypoxia and respiratory distress, commonly caused by left-sided heart failure.

Delirium

An acute, sudden change in mental status characterized by confusion, disorientation, impaired thinking, and an often fluctuating level of consciousness.

Appendicitis

Inflammation of the appendix, usually caused by obstruction, which can lead to infection and life-threatening rupture causing peritonitis.

Situational awareness

Constant assessment of the environment and surroundings to identify potential hazards and ensure safety through the process of LOOK, THINK, PREDICT, ACT.

SAMPLE

A mnemonic used to obtain medical history: Signs/symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last oral intake, and Events leading up to illness/injury.

Aerobic metabolism

The process by which cells use oxygen to convert glucose into energy ($\text{ATP}$), yielding $\text{CO}_2$ and water as byproducts.

HIPAA

Health Information Privacy Accountability Act; a federal law that protects the privacy and security of a patient's protected health information ($\text{PHI}$).

Chronic bronchitis

A type of COPD characterized by long-term inflammation of the bronchi, excessive mucus production, and a productive cough lasting at least $3\,\text{months}$ per year for $2$ consecutive years ("blue bloater").

Emphysema

A type of COPD characterized by the destruction of alveoli, leading to reduced surface area for gas exchange, SOB, pursed-lip breathing, and a barrel chest ("pink puffer").

DUMBELS

A mnemonic used to recognize cholinergic poisoning: Diarrhea, Urination, Miosis, Bradycardia/Bronchospasm/Bronchorrhea, Lacrimation, Lethargy, and Salivation.

Spontaneous abortion

The loss of pregnancy before $20\,\text{weeks}$ of gestation without deliberate intervention (miscarriage).

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

The unexpected and unexplained death of an apparently healthy infant (usually under $1\,\text{year}$ of age), typically occurring during sleep.

Crew resource management

The effective use of all available resources—people, equipment, and information—to ensure safe and efficient patient care and error reduction under pressure.

Aorta

The largest artery in the body, which carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the rest of the systemic circulation.

Scope of practice

The range of skills, procedures, and responsibilities that a healthcare provider is legally permitted to perform based on their training level, certification, and state regulations.

Alveoli

Air sacs at the terminal ends of bronchioles where gas exchange ($\text{O}_2$ in, $\text{CO}_2$ out) occurs between the inhaled air and the bloodstream.

Shock (hypoperfusion)

A state in which the circulatory system fails to provide adequate oxygen and nutrients to tissues and organs, forcing cells into anaerobic metabolism and acidosis.

Abruptio placentae

Premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall before delivery, causing vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, and a firm, board-like abdomen.

Coronary arteries

Blood vessels that branch from the aorta to supply oxygenated blood directly to the heart muscle (myocardium).

Hot zone

The contaminated area at a hazardous materials incident that immediately surrounds the source of the hazard, posing the highest risk to responders.

Negligence

Failure to provide the standard of care that a reasonably prudent person with similar training would provide; established via Duty to act, Breach of duty, Damages, and Causation.

RICE

A treatment protocol for joint sprains consisting of Rest, Ice, Compression with an elastic bandage, and Elevation above heart level.

Ectopic pregnancy

Implantation of a pregnancy outside the uterus, commonly presenting at $4-8\,\text{weeks}$ with severe one-sided lower abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, and referred shoulder pain.

Traumatic asphyxia

A severe chest compression condition presenting with facial and neck cyanosis, facial swelling/edema, petechiae, and subconjunctival hemorrhage.

Hyperventilation syndrome

An anxiety- or stress-induced condition marked by tachypnea, normal oxygen saturation, dizziness, carpopedal spasms, and tingling around the mouth and extremities.

Cystic fibrosis

A genetic disease causing thick, sticky mucus production in the lungs and digestive tract, resulting in chronic cough, salty-tasting skin, and greasy, bulky stools.

Meningitis

An infection of the meninges characterized by fever, severe headache, nuchal rigidity (neck stiffness), photophobia, and a non-blanching purpuric or petechial rash.

Dissecting aneurysm

A condition in which the inner layer of the aorta tears, presenting with sudden, severe tearing or ripping chest/back pain, blood pressure discrepancies between arms, and pulse deficits.

Excited delirium

A state of severe agitation, delirium, hyperthermia, extreme strength, and diaphoresis, posing a critical danger of sudden cardiac arrest following collapse.

Cushing's triad

A triad of vital sign findings indicating increased intracranial pressure ($\text{ICP}$): hypertension with widening pulse pressure, bradycardia, and irregular respirations.

FAST

A stroke assessment mnemonic from the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale: Facial droop, Arm drift, Slurred speech, and Time.

Atherosclerosis

Plaque accumulation on arterial walls that narrows the lumen (stenosis), decreases elasticity, and reduces blood flow to the heart and other tissues.

Type 1 diabetes

An autoimmune disease where the body destroys insulin-producing pancreatic cells, resulting in absolute insulin deficiency, hyperglycemia, and ketone accumulation.

Rigor mortis

The postmortem stiffening of body muscles, recognized as a definitive and conclusive sign of death.

Dependent lividity

The pooling of blood in the lowest parts of the body due to gravity, creating a purple discoloration; recognized as a definitive sign of death.

Pulse oximeter

A device that measures the percentage of hemoglobin in circulating blood that is saturated with oxygen (normal $94\%-100\%$).

Aspirin

An antiplatelet medication administered in cardiac emergencies ($84\,\text{mg}$ baby aspirin) to prevent platelet aggregation and inhibit further clot growth.

Naloxone

An opiate antagonist that reverses respiratory depression and sedation by displacing opioids from opioid receptor sites in the central nervous system.

Epinephrine

A sympathomimetic drug stimulating alpha and beta receptors to produce bronchodilation, increased heart rate and contractility, and vasoconstriction during severe anaphylaxis.

Apgar score

A neonatal scoring system assessing five parameters at birth: Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration, each scored $0$ to $2$.

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

A neurological scale evaluating mental status based on three parameters: Eye opening ($1-4$), Verbal response ($1-5$), and Motor response ($1-6$).

Positional asphyxia

Hypoxia occurring when a person's body position restricts chest expansion and prevents adequate respiration, commonly associated with prone physical restraint.

Blunt trauma

Traumatic injury caused by forceful impact against the body without breaking or piercing the skin.

Penetrating trauma

Traumatic injury occurring when an object pierces the skin and enters bodily tissues.

Appendicular skeleton

The skeletal division comprising the upper extremities (arms, hands/wrists), lower extremities (legs, feet/ankles), pectoral girdle (clavicle/scapula), and pelvic girdle.

Basilar skull fracture

A fracture at the base of the skull characterized clinically by Battle sign, raccoon eyes, and cerebrospinal fluid ($\text{CSF}$) leakage from the nose or ears.

Brainstem

The central trunk of the brain consisting of three major structures: the midbrain, the pons, and the medulla oblongata.