Emergency Medical Technician Terms & Vocabulary

AED

Automated external defibrillator: analyzes heart rhythm and delivers a shock if needed.

BVM

Bag-valve mask: used to ventilate patients who are not breathing adequately.

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

A 3–15 score of eye, verbal and motor response used to assess level of consciousness.

Mechanism of injury (MOI)

The forces that caused an injury, used to predict likely injuries.

Medical direction

Physician oversight of EMS care through protocols (offline) or radio/phone (online).

NREMT

National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians: the national certification body for EMS.

OPQRST

Onset, Provocation, Quality, Region/Radiation, Severity, Time: used to assess pain.

Patient care report (PCR)

The legal record of assessment, treatment and transport.

Primary assessment

A rapid check for life threats, often summarized as airway, breathing and circulation (ABC or XABC).

SAMPLE history

Signs/symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past history, Last oral intake, Events leading up.

Scene size-up

Assessing scene safety, mechanism of injury, number of patients and resources needed before patient contact.

Shock (hypoperfusion)

Inadequate blood flow to organs; signs include rapid pulse, pale clammy skin and confusion.

Spinal motion restriction

Limiting movement of the spine in patients with suspected spinal injury.

Standard precautions

Using gloves, eye protection and other PPE to prevent exposure to body fluids.

Triage (START)

Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment: sorting multiple patients by urgency.

Practice these terms

Test yourself with the free Emergency Medical Technician practice test: it includes vocabulary questions built from this list. For a complete course, see Emergency Medical Technician training.

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