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