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My life as a Paramedic and a soon to be first time Mom.
All About Me
Date and Time
My Readers
What I really mean when I say....
- Accucheck-blood sugar level. Also called finger stick, D stick, BGL
- ACLS-advanced cardiac life support
- ALS-advanced life support-care provided by a Paramedic
- Asystole-flat line. No cardiac rhythm, clinical death
- BLS-basic life support-care provided by an EMT, EMT-I, or an EMT-IV
- BVM-bag valve mask-a device use to deliver artifical breaths for a patient
- Cancel Christmas Syndrome-a critically ill pt--generally not expected to survive, or one that has passed away
- Cardiac Arrest-cessation of all respiratory and cardiac functions
- CBC-complete blood count
- CHF-congestive heart failure
- Code-see cardiac arrest
- COPD-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- CPR-cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- CVA-cerebral vascular accident (stroke)
- Cyanosis-bluish tinge to the skin. Generally seen because of hypoxia, or a lack of oxygen
- Dark o' Clock-euphemism for the time between sunset and midnight
- DFO-"done fell out" -- passed out
- DRT-dead right there
- ED-emergency department
- EJ-external jugular--a large vein in the neck
- ER-emergency room
- EtoH-alcohol
- HIPPA-federal privacy laws regarding medical information
- IAFF-International Association of Firefighters
- Intubate-to place a tube in the airway in order to breathe for a pt
- IO-intraosseous--generally refers to the placement of a large needle in the bone marrow to provide fluids and emergency medications
- K-potassium-an electrolyte. Normal levels 3.7-5.5
- MI-myocardial infarction, heart attack
- Mottled-marbled looking discoloration to the skin. Seen in severe distress and in death
- MVC-motor vehicle collision
- NRP-neonatal resuscitation program
- O' dark thirty-euphemism to describe any time after midnight when it is still dark outside
- PALS-pediatric advanced life support
- Pt-abbrev. for patient
- Standing orders-written orders granted by our medical director that gives us treatment orders based on a specific pt complaint
- STAT-immediately, urgent
- T-Bone-a motor vehicle accident where the front end of one vehicle strikes the side of another
- TIA-transient ischemic attack (mini stroke)
- Triage-to determine the acuity level of a patient based on a rapid assessment
- WTF-what the f--k
