EMT Common Abbreviations

A&P

anatomy and physiology

ā

before

AAA

abdominal aortic aneurysm

abd

abdomen

ABC, ABCs

airway, breathing, circulation

ac

before meals

ACLS

advanced cardiac life support

ADL, ADLs

activities of daily living

ad lib

as desired

AED

automated external defibrillator

AF, A-fib

atrial fibrillation

AICD

automated implantable cardioverter defibrillator

AIDS

acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

AK

above the knee

AKA

above the knee amputation

AMA

against medical advice

amb

ambulatory

AMI

acute myocardial infarction

ant

anterior

AO x 4 ; A/O x 4

alert and oriented to person, place, time, and self

AP

anteroposterior, front-to-back, action potential, angina pectoris, anterior pituitary, arterial pressure

ARDS

adult respiratory distress syndrome

ASA

aspirin (Acetylsalicylic acid)

ASHD

arteriosclerotic or atherosclerotic heart disease

BGL

blood glucose level

bid/b.i.d/BID

twice daily

BKA

below the knee amputation

BM

bowel movement

BP, B/P

blood pressure

BPM

beats per minute

BS

blood sugar, breath sounds, bowel sounds, bachelor of science (degree)

BSA

body surface area

BVM

bag-valve mask

bx

biopsy

c̅

with

°C

degrees Celsius (centigrade)

CA

cancer, cardiac arrest, chronologic age, coronary artery, cold agglutinin

CABG

coronary artery bypass graft

CAD

coronary artery disease

CBC

complete blood cell count

CC or C/C

chief complaint

CCU

coronary care unit

C diff

Clostridium difficile

CHF

congestive heart failure

cm

centimeter

CNS

central Nervous System

c/o

complaining of

CO

cardiac output, carbon monoxide

CO₂

carbon dioxide

COLD

chronic obstructive lung disease

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CP

chest pain, chemically pure, cerebral palsy

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CRNA

certified registered nurse anesthetist

CRT

capillary refill time, cathode ray tube

CSF

cerebrospinal fluid

CVA

cerebrovascular accident

DM

diabetes mellitus

DNR

do not resuscitate

DOA

dead on arrival

DOE

dyspnea on exertion

DON

director of nursing

DPT

diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine, Doctor of Physical Therapy

DSD

dry sterile dressing

DtaP

diptheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine

DTP

diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine

DTs

delirium tremens

DVT

deep venous thrombosis

Dx

diagnosis

ECG

electrocardiogram

ED

emergency department, erectile dysfunction

EDC

estimated date of confinement

EEG

electroencephalogram

EKG

electrocardiogram

ENT

ears, nose, and throat

EOC

Emergency Operations Center

ER

emergency room

ET, ETT

endotracheal tube, endotracheal

ETA

estimated time of arrival

ETco₂

end-tidal carbon dioxide

ETOH

ethyl alcohol

°F

degrees Fahrenheit

Fio₂

fraction of inspired oxygen

FBS

fasting blood sugar

Fe

iron

FHR

fetal heart rate

FHx

family history

fl or fld

fluid

fx

fracture

GB

gallbladder

GCS

Glasgow Coma Scale

GERD

gastroesophageal reflux disease

GI

gastrointestinal

GSW

gunshot wound

gtt

drop(s)

GTT

glucose tolerance test

GU

genitourinary

gyn

gynecology

h

hour

H&P

history and physical