A capnography waveform is the graphical representation of the concentration of exhaled carbon dioxide (CO2) over time, providing critical insights during patient ventilation. Not to be confused with capnometry, which solely delivers numerical CO2 values, the waveform offers a visual assessment of ventilation status, airway integrity, and circulatory function in real time. This data is essential in emergency medical care, particularly within the context of START triage and other incident command systems. In EMS contexts, it is commonly framed alongside structured communication and triage concepts such as START (Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment) or SALT (Sort, Assess, Lifesaving interventions, Treatment/Transport) as shared terminology.
Category context: Patient care, assessment, interventions, triage, and EMS system terms commonly used by firefighter/medics.