EMS & Medical Glossary
Firefighter/medics operate at the intersection of fire suppression and emergency medicine. This hub covers the clinical and operational vocabulary used in prehospital care — from patient assessment and airway management to cardiac arrest protocols, trauma care, and EMS system structure.
Topics covered: Primary/secondary survey, airway management, CPR and ACLS, trauma (MOI, hemorrhage control), pharmacology basics, triage (START/SALT), ALS vs BLS scope, and medical documentation.
100Published terms
100 terms, A-Z
Alphabetical. First 24 shown - click "Show all" to expand.
A (4)
acute coronary syndromeView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.advanced airway managementView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Advanced Life Support (ALS)View definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Airway ManagementView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.
B (6)
BiotelemetryView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Bloodborne PathogensView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.BLS EquipmentView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.BradycardiaView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Burn ClassificationView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.BurnoutView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.
C (15)
capillary blood glucose testingView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Capillary Leak SyndromeView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Capillary Refill TimeView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.CapnographyView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Capnography MonitoringView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Capnography WaveformView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.CapnometryView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Cardiac ArrestView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.cardiac monitoringView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.cerebrovascular accidentView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.cervical spine immobilizationView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.chest pain assessmentView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Critical Care TransportView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Crush Injury SyndromeView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Crush SyndromeView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.
E (2)
F (2)
G (4)
Geriatric AssessmentView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Glasgow Coma ScaleView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Glasgow Eye ResponseView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Glasgow Motor ScoreView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.
H (4)
Hemostatic AgentView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.hypoglycemiaView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.hypotensionView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Hypovolemic ShockView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.
I (3)
J (4)
jacketed patientView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.jaundiceView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.joint dislocationView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.jugular venous distensionView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.
K (4)
M (8)
mechanical CPRView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.mechanical CPR deviceView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.mechanical ventilationView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Mechanism of Injury (MOI)View definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Medical DirectionView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Medical Incident CommandView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Medical OversightView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.medical triageView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.
P (20)
Patient AssessmentView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Patient Care ReportView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Patient ExtricationView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.patient handoffView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Patient StabilizationView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Patient Transport ProtocolView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.pediatric advanced life supportView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.pediatric assessmentView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.pediatric assessment triangleView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.pediatric resuscitationView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.perfusionView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.pneumothoraxView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.post-resuscitation careView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.prehospital emergency careView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Prehospital Emergency Care ProtocolsView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Prehospital Rapid Sequence IntubationView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Prehospital Stroke ScaleView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Prehospital Trauma Life SupportView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Primary SurveyView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Pulse OximetryView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.
R (3)
S (5)
SAMPLEView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.scoop stretcherView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.shock indexView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Spinal Motion RestrictionView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.suctioningView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.
T (8)
Tourniquet ApplicationView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Trauma AssessmentView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.Trauma ScoreView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.trauma scoringView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.traumatic brain injury assessmentView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.TriageView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.triageView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.TriageView definition, usage notes, and related operational context.
X (2)
EMS and Medical Terminology for Firefighter/Medics
Prehospital medicine demands the same precision as fireground operations. A misidentified mechanism of injury or an incorrect drug dosage can be as fatal as a wrong tactical decision. This hub covers the clinical vocabulary shared across BLS and ALS providers, from first-responder assessment to ALS intervention and hospital hand-off.
Terms include the primary and secondary survey, airway management (OPA, NPA, BVM, RSI), cardiac arrest protocols, hemorrhage control, triage systems (START and SALT), and the pharmacology basics every paramedic uses on every shift.
Frequently Asked Questions - EMS & Medical
What is the difference between ALS and BLS?
BLS (Basic Life Support) covers non-invasive interventions: CPR, AED, basic airway, bleeding control, and splinting. ALS (Advanced Life Support) includes all BLS plus IV/IO access, medication administration, advanced airway (intubation, RSI), cardiac monitoring, and 12-lead ECG interpretation. Scope of practice is defined by state EMS regulations.
What does MOI mean in EMS?
MOI stands for Mechanism of Injury — the physical forces that caused trauma to a patient (e.g., high-speed MVC, fall from height, gunshot). MOI guides the provider's index of suspicion for specific injuries, determines spinal precaution decisions, and is documented in the patient care report.
What is START triage?
START (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment) is a mass casualty triage system that categorizes patients in under 60 seconds using three checks: respirations, radial pulse/perfusion, and mental status. Patients are tagged Red (immediate), Yellow (delayed), Green (minor), or Black (deceased/expectant).
What is a 12-lead ECG used for in the field?
A 12-lead ECG allows paramedics to identify STEMI (ST-elevation myocardial infarction) in the field, enabling pre-hospital cath lab activation and reducing door-to-balloon time. It also helps identify other dysrhythmias, ischemia, and electrolyte abnormalities before hospital arrival.
What does GCS stand for?
GCS stands for Glasgow Coma Scale — a standardized neurological assessment scoring eye opening (1-4), verbal response (1-5), and motor response (1-6). A total score of 15 is normal; 8 or below indicates severe brain injury and typically triggers advanced airway management. GCS is documented on every trauma patient.
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