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EMT and First Responder Basics

Core emergency care vocabulary and concepts. Education only; take a certified course to learn real skills.

90 cardsGrades 9–12, College, Adult#emt#first-aid#emergency

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90 cards
  • EMTTerm
    Emergency medical technician, a trained emergency care provider
  • Scene size-upTerm
    Checking for safety and hazards before helping
  • Scene safetyTerm
    Making sure the area is safe for rescuers first
  • Body substance isolationTerm
    Using protective gear to avoid contact with body fluids
  • Primary assessmentTerm
    Quick check for life threats
  • Secondary assessmentTerm
    More detailed head-to-toe check after life threats are handled
  • ABCsTerm
    Airway, breathing, circulation
  • Level of consciousnessTerm
    How alert a patient is
  • AVPUTerm
    Alert, Verbal, Painful, Unresponsive
  • SAMPLE historyTerm
    Signs/symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past history, Last meal, Events
  • OPQRSTTerm
    Onset, Provocation, Quality, Radiation, Severity, Time: a pain questioning guide
  • Chief complaintTerm
    The main reason the patient needs help
  • Mechanism of injuryTerm
    How the injury happened
  • Nature of illnessTerm
    What is medically wrong
  • TriageTerm
    Sorting patients by urgency
  • AirwayTerm
    The path air takes to the lungs
  • Head-tilt, chin-liftTerm
    Method to open the airway when no spinal injury is suspected
  • Jaw thrustTerm
    Method to open the airway while limiting neck movement
  • Oropharyngeal airwayTerm
    Curved device that keeps the tongue from blocking the airway
  • SuctionTerm
    Removing fluid or material from the airway
  • Respiratory arrestTerm
    Breathing has stopped
  • Cardiac arrestTerm
    The heart has stopped pumping effectively
  • CPRTerm
    Chest compressions and rescue breaths to keep blood flowing
  • Compression rateTerm
    About 100 to 120 compressions per minute for adults
  • Compression depthTerm
    About 2 inches (5 cm) in adults
  • AEDTerm
    Device that checks heart rhythm and can deliver a shock
  • DefibrillationTerm
    An electric shock that can reset a dangerous heart rhythm
  • ChokingTerm
    Blockage of the airway by an object
  • Abdominal thrustsTerm
    Technique to clear an object from a choking adult
  • Bleeding controlTerm
    Direct pressure, then tourniquet if needed
  • Direct pressureTerm
    Pressing on a wound to stop bleeding
  • TourniquetTerm
    Band applied above a limb wound to stop severe bleeding
  • ShockTerm
    Inadequate blood flow to the body's tissues
  • Signs of shockTerm
    Pale, cool, clammy skin, fast pulse, confusion
  • HemorrhageTerm
    Heavy bleeding
  • FractureTerm
    A broken bone
  • SplintTerm
    Device to keep an injured limb still
  • Spinal immobilizationTerm
    Keeping the neck and back still after suspected spinal injury
  • Cervical collarTerm
    Neck brace limiting head movement
  • BackboardTerm
    Rigid board used to move patients with possible spine injury
  • Burn: first degreeTerm
    Affects only the outer skin layer; red and painful
  • Burn: second degreeTerm
    Blisters; affects deeper layers
  • Burn: third degreeTerm
    Destroys full skin thickness
  • Heat exhaustionTerm
    Heavy sweating, weakness, nausea from overheating
  • Heat strokeTerm
    Dangerous overheating; a life-threatening emergency
  • HypothermiaTerm
    Dangerously low body temperature
  • FrostbiteTerm
    Freezing of body tissue
  • Stroke signs (FAST)Term
    Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech trouble, Time to call emergency services
  • Heart attack signsTerm
    Chest pressure, shortness of breath, sweating, pain spreading to arm or jaw
  • SeizureTerm
    Sudden uncontrolled electrical activity in the brain
  • Diabetic emergencyTerm
    Dangerously high or low blood sugar
  • AnaphylaxisTerm
    Severe allergic reaction
  • Epinephrine auto-injectorTerm
    Device delivering epinephrine for severe allergic reactions
  • AsthmaTerm
    Chronic condition with airway narrowing
  • OverdoseTerm
    Taking too much of a substance, causing harm
  • Poison controlTerm
    Service giving advice on poisoning exposures
  • Childbirth emergencyTerm
    Delivery occurring outside a hospital
  • Pediatric assessment triangleTerm
    Appearance, work of breathing, circulation to skin
  • Infant CPRTerm
    Uses two fingers or encircling hands for compressions
  • Head injuryTerm
    Trauma to the head that may affect the brain
  • ConcussionTerm
    Mild brain injury caused by a blow or shake
  • Pulse pointsTerm
    Places to feel a pulse, like carotid, radial and brachial
  • Capillary refillTerm
    Time for color to return to a pressed nail bed
  • Pupils: PERRLTerm
    Pupils equal, round, reactive to light
  • Glasgow Coma ScaleTerm
    Score of eye, verbal and motor responses
  • TraumaTerm
    Physical injury
  • Golden hourTerm
    The idea that quick trauma care improves outcomes
  • Medical directionTerm
    Physician oversight of EMS care
  • ProtocolTerm
    Written guideline for treatment
  • Scope of practiceTerm
    Care an EMT is allowed to provide
  • Implied consentTerm
    Assuming an unconscious patient would accept lifesaving help
  • Good Samaritan lawTerm
    Protects people who help in good faith in an emergency
  • Duty to actTerm
    Legal obligation to help, depending on role and setting
  • AbandonmentTerm
    Leaving a patient without proper handoff
  • Patient confidentialityTerm
    Keeping patient information private
  • Patient reportTerm
    Written record of the call
  • Handoff reportTerm
    Verbal summary given to hospital staff
  • AmbulanceTerm
    Vehicle that provides emergency transport and care
  • Lights and sirensTerm
    Warning signals used when speed is critical
  • Hazardous materialsTerm
    Dangerous substances requiring special response
  • Incident commandTerm
    System for organizing large emergency responses
  • Mass casualty incidentTerm
    Event with many injured people
  • START triageTerm
    Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment sorting method
  • ExtricationTerm
    Removing a person from a trapped situation
  • StabilizeTerm
    Keep a patient's condition from getting worse
  • Recovery positionTerm
    Side-lying position to keep the airway clear
  • Oxygen therapyTerm
    Giving extra oxygen
  • Non-rebreather maskTerm
    Mask giving high-concentration oxygen
  • Bag-valve maskTerm
    Hand-squeezed device that delivers breaths
  • Pulse oximetryTerm
    Noninvasive oxygen saturation measure

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