EMT Abbreviations
ACLS
Advanced Cardiac Life Support
ALS
Advanced Life Support
AMS
Altered mental status
AHA
American heart association
ADA
Americans with disabilities act
AED
Automated External Defibrillator
BVM
Bag Valve Mask
BSI
Body substance isolation
CPR
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
CVA
Cerebral vascular accident
COPD
Chronic Obstruction Pulmonary Disease
CPAP
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
DM
Diabetes mellitus
FROPVD
Flow-Restricted, Oxygen- Powered Ventilation Device
GCS
Glasgow coma scale
ICD
Implanted Cardiac Defibrillator
KED
Kendrick extrication device
MSOF
Multiple system organ failure
NRM
Non-Rebreather Mask
PID
Pelvic inflammatory disease
PIH
Pregnancy-induced hypertension
SAMPLE
Signs, symptoms and story, Allergies, Medications, Past pertinent history, Last oral intake, Events that led up to the call.
TIA
Transient ischemic attack
ABD
abdomen / abdominal
AAA
abdominal aortic aneurysm
AIDS
acquired immune deficiency syndrome
ACS
acute coronary syndrome
AMI
acute myocardial infarction
ARDS
acute respiratory distress syndrome
ATP
adenosine triphosphate
AEMT
advanced emergency medical technician
AMA
against medical advised
ABC
airway, breathing circulation
A&O x 3
alert & oriented to person, place & time
A&O x 4
alert & oriented to person, place, time & event
AVPU
alert verbal painful unresponsive
~
approximately
PRN / prn
as needed or as necessary
ASA
aspirin
AICD
automatic implanted cardiac defibrillator
ATV
automatic transport ventilator
ANS
autonomic nervous system
AAO
awake, alert and oriented
BiPAP
biphasic continuous positive airway pressure
BP
blood pressure
BS
breath sounds
CA
cancer
CDC
center for disease control
CNS
central nervous system
CSF
cerebrospinal fluid
CHEMTREC
chemical transportation emergency center
CC
chief complaint
CAB
circulation airway breathing
CMS
circulation motor sensation
c/o
complaining of
CHF
congestive heart failure
CAPD
continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis
CCPD
continuous cycler-assisted peritoneal dialysis
CAD
coronary artery disease
CISD
critical incident stress debriefing
CISM
critical incident stress management
DOA
dead on arrival
DVT
deep vein thrombosis DX = diagnosis
DCAPBTLS/C/ SFD
deformities, contusions, abrasions, punctures or penetrations, burns, tenderness, lacerations, swelling / crepitus / soft, firm, distended
DT
delirium tremens
DKA
diabetic ketoacidosis
DNR
do not resuscitate
ECG
electrocardiogram
EMD
emergency medical dispatcher
EMS
emergency medical services
EMT
emergency medical technician
ESRD
end-stage renal disease
ETT / ET
endotracheal tube
ETOH
ethanol alcohol
qd
everyday
QID
four times a day
FiO2
fraction of inspired oxygen
FX
fracture
GOA
gone on arrival
GSW
gunshot wound
HHN
hand held nebulizer
HIPPA
health insurance portability and accountability
HR
heart rate
HEPA
high-efficiency particulate air
Hx
history
HS / hs
hour of sleep
HHNS
hyperglycemic hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome
HTN
hypertension
ICS
incident command system
ICS
intercostal space
ICP
intracranial pressure
IM
intramuscular
IV
intravenous
JVD
jugular vein distention
LMA
laryngeal mask airway
LMC
last menstrual cycle
LLQ
left lower quadrant
LUQ
left upper quadrant
LVAD
left ventricular assist device
LBB
long back board
MSDS
material safety data sheet
MOI
mechanism of injury
MDI
metered dose inhaler
MERS
middle eastern respiratory syndrome
MCI
multiple-casualty incident OR mass casualty incident
MI
myocardial infarction
NC
nasal cannula
NG
nasogastric tube
NPA
nasopharyngeal airway
NFPA
national fire protection association
NHTSA
national highway traffic safety administration
NIMS
national incident management system
NIOSH
national institute for occupational safety and health
NREMT
national registry emergency medical technician
NOI
nature of illness
N/V
nausea & vomiting
NKA
no known allergies
NKDA
no known drug allergies
NPPV
noninvasive positive pressure ventilation
NSAIDS
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
NSR
normal sinus rhythm
OSHA
occupational safety and health administration
OPQRST
onset, provocation, quality, radiation, severity, time
OPA
oropharyngeal airway
SpO2
oxygen saturation
PMH
past medical history
Pt
patient
PAT
pediatric assessment triangle
PNS
peripheral nervous system
PICC
peripherally inserted central catheter
PD
peritoneal dialysis
PPE
personal protection equipment
POLST
physician orders for life-sustaining treatment
PASG
pneumatic anti-shock garment
POC
position of comfort
PTSD
post-traumatic stress disorder
PCR
prehospital care report
PVC
premature ventricular contractions
PTA
prior to arrival
PE
pulmonary edema OR pulmonary emboli
PMS
pulse movement sensation
PEA
pulseless electrical activity
PEARL
pupils equal and reactive to light
PPD
purified protein derivative
QI
quality improvement
RCT
randomized controlled trials
RBC
red blood cell
RAS
reticular activating system
RTS
revised trauma score
RLQ
right lower quadrant
RUQ
right upper quadrant
SLUDGE
salivation, lacrimation, urination, defecation, GI upset, emesis, miosis
SCBA
self-contained breathing apparatus
SARS
severe acute respiratory syndrome
SOB
shortness of breath
SCA
sickle cell anemia
START
simple triage and rapid transport
SVN
small volume nebulizer
sl
sublingual
SIDS
sudden infant death syndrome
SRS
supplemental restraint systems
SVR
systemic vascular resistance
TMJ
temporomandibular joint
TID
three times a day
TBI
traumatic brain injury
TST
tuberculin skin test
TB
tuberculosis
BID
two times a day
UA
upon arrival
UTI
urinary tract infection
VAD
ventricular assist device
VF
ventricular fibrillation
VT
ventricular tachycardia
VHF
viral hemorrhagic fevers
WMD
weapons of mass destruction
WBC
white blood cell
yrs
years
YO
years old