EMT Terms Flashcards
Atherosclerosis
A disorder in which cholesterol and calcium build up inside the walls of blood vessels, eventually leading to partial or complete blockage of blood flow.
Abandonment
Unilateral termination of care by the EMT without the patient’s consent and without making provisions for transferring care to another medical professional with the skills and training necessary to meet the needs of the patient.
Advanced life support (ALS)
Advanced life-saving procedures, some of which are now being provided by the EMT.
Agonal Gasps
Abnormal breathing pattern characterized by slow, gasping breaths, sometimes seen in patients in cardiac arrest.
Agonist
A medication that causes stimulation of receptors.
Altered Mental Status
A change in the way a person thinks and behaves that may signal disease in the central nervous system or elsewhere in the body
Anaerobic Metabolism
Metabolism that takes place in the absence of oxygen; the main by-product is lactic acid.
Anaphylaxis
An extreme, life-threatening, systemic allergic reaction that may include shock and respiratory failure.
Anemic
Condition in which the patient has too few red blood cells, resulting in a decreased ability to transport oxygen throughout the body via the bloodstream.
Angioedema
Localized area of swelling beneath the skin, often around the eyes and lips, but can also involve other body areas as well.
Antagonist
A medication that binds to a receptor and blocks other medications.
Aphasia
The inability to understand and/or produce speech.
Apnea
Absence of spontaneous breathing
Apneic Oxygenation
A technique in which oxygen administered via a high-flow nasal cannula is left in place during an intubation attempt, allowing for continuous oxygen delivery into the airways during all phases of the procedure.
AVPU Scale
A method of assessing the level of consciousness by determining whether the patient is awake and alert, responsive to verbal stimuli or pain or unresponsive; used principally early in the assessment process.
