EMT: Emergency medical technician, a trained emergency care provider Scene size-up: Checking for safety and hazards before helping Scene safety: Making sure the area is safe for rescuers first Body substance isolation: Using protective gear to avoid contact with body fluids Primary assessment: Quick check for life threats Secondary assessment: More detailed head-to-toe check after life threats are handled ABCs: Airway, breathing, circulation Level of consciousness: How alert a patient is AVPU: Alert, Verbal, Painful, Unresponsive SAMPLE history: Signs/symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past history, Last meal, Events OPQRST: Onset, Provocation, Quality, Radiation, Severity, Time: a pain questioning guide Chief complaint: The main reason the patient needs help Mechanism of injury: How the injury happened Nature of illness: What is medically wrong Triage: Sorting patients by urgency Airway: The path air takes to the lungs Head-tilt, chin-lift: Method to open the airway when no spinal injury is suspected Jaw thrust: Method to open the airway while limiting neck movement Oropharyngeal airway: Curved device that keeps the tongue from blocking the airway Suction: Removing fluid or material from the airway Respiratory arrest: Breathing has stopped Cardiac arrest: The heart has stopped pumping effectively CPR: Chest compressions and rescue breaths to keep blood flowing Compression rate: About 100 to 120 compressions per minute for adults Compression depth: About 2 inches (5 cm) in adults AED: Device that checks heart rhythm and can deliver a shock Defibrillation: An electric shock that can reset a dangerous heart rhythm Choking: Blockage of the airway by an object Abdominal thrusts: Technique to clear an object from a choking adult Bleeding control: Direct pressure, then tourniquet if needed Direct pressure: Pressing on a wound to stop bleeding Tourniquet: Band applied above a limb wound to stop severe bleeding Shock: Inadequate blood flow to the body's tissues Signs of shock: Pale, cool, clammy skin, fast pulse, confusion Hemorrhage: Heavy bleeding Fracture: A broken bone Splint: Device to keep an injured limb still Spinal immobilization: Keeping the neck and back still after suspected spinal injury Cervical collar: Neck brace limiting head movement Backboard: Rigid board used to move patients with possible spine injury Burn: first degree: Affects only the outer skin layer; red and painful Burn: second degree: Blisters; affects deeper layers Burn: third degree: Destroys full skin thickness Heat exhaustion: Heavy sweating, weakness, nausea from overheating Heat stroke: Dangerous overheating; a life-threatening emergency Hypothermia: Dangerously low body temperature Frostbite: Freezing of body tissue Stroke signs (FAST): Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech trouble, Time to call emergency services Heart attack signs: Chest pressure, shortness of breath, sweating, pain spreading to arm or jaw Seizure: Sudden uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain Diabetic emergency: Dangerously high or low blood sugar Anaphylaxis: Severe allergic reaction Epinephrine auto-injector: Device delivering epinephrine for severe allergic reactions Asthma: Chronic condition with airway narrowing Overdose: Taking too much of a substance, causing harm Poison control: Service giving advice on poisoning exposures Childbirth emergency: Delivery occurring outside a hospital Pediatric assessment triangle: Appearance, work of breathing, circulation to skin Infant CPR: Uses two fingers or encircling hands for compressions Head injury: Trauma to the head that may affect the brain Concussion: Mild brain injury caused by a blow or shake Pulse points: Places to feel a pulse, like carotid, radial and brachial Capillary refill: Time for color to return to a pressed nail bed Pupils: PERRL: Pupils equal, round, reactive to light Glasgow Coma Scale: Score of eye, verbal and motor responses Trauma: Physical injury Golden hour: The idea that quick trauma care improves outcomes Medical direction: Physician oversight of EMS care Protocol: Written guideline for treatment Scope of practice: Care an EMT is allowed to provide Implied consent: Assuming an unconscious patient would accept lifesaving help Good Samaritan law: Protects people who help in good faith in an emergency Duty to act: Legal obligation to help, depending on role and setting Abandonment: Leaving a patient without proper handoff Patient confidentiality: Keeping patient information private Patient report: Written record of the call Handoff report: Verbal summary given to hospital staff Ambulance: Vehicle that provides emergency transport and care Lights and sirens: Warning signals used when speed is critical Hazardous materials: Dangerous substances requiring special response Incident command: System for organizing large emergency responses Mass casualty incident: Event with many injured people START triage: Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment sorting method Extrication: Removing a person from a trapped situation Stabilize: Keep a patient's condition from getting worse Recovery position: Side-lying position to keep the airway clear Oxygen therapy: Giving extra oxygen Non-rebreather mask: Mask giving high-concentration oxygen Bag-valve mask: Hand-squeezed device that delivers breaths Pulse oximetry: Noninvasive oxygen saturation measure Free flashcards from Peabody at peabody.kids/flashcards/tp-emt-basics