I've finally had a chance to update this. It doesn't include all of the
input I've received, but most of it. Some is on another system.
1SG First Sargent ? ( I was not a MP but I have been a 1SG, ...)
AAA Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
AAA American Ambulance Association
AAMS Association of Air Medical Services (US)
AAOS American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons
AAOx3 Awake, Alert, Oriented x 3 [person/place/time]
AAP American Academy of Pediatrics
AAT Australian Antarctic Teritory
AB ABortion
AB Alberta (province) (Canada)
ABEM American Board of Emergency Medicine
ABGs Arterial Blood Gases
ABLS Advanced Burn Life Support
ABP Always ? Precautions (possibly ? Bloodborne Pathogens)
AC AnteCubital vein or fossa (IV)
AC Anterior Cephalic vein
ACD Active Compression-Decompression (CPR)
ACEP American College of Emergency Physicians
ACLS Advanced Cardiac Life Support
ACO Alert Conscious Oriented?
ACOEP American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians
ACPM American College of Prehospital Medicine.
ACRONYM A Contrived Reduction Of Nouns, Yielding Mnemonics
ACS-COT American College of Surgeons - Committee on Trauma
ACT Australian Capital Territory
ACTES Australian Capital Territory Emergency Service (Australia)
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act
ADN ? one year of an ADN program (core curriculum only)
ADSU Automatic Distress Signal Unit
A&E Accident and Emergency
A&E Arts and Entertainment (US TV channel)
AEA Ambulance Emergency Assistant (South Africa, after 1991)
AED AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATOR , reference AHA Adavanced Cardiac Life
AELS Advanced Endocrinological Life Support
AEP ?
AFA Advanced First Aid
AFA Automatic Fire Alarm (or Automatic False Alarm)
AFEM the Alliance for Fire and Emergency Management
AFRCC Airforce Rescue Coordination Center
AFRS Aviation Fire and Rescue Service ( com )
AHA American Hospital Association (?)
AICD Automatic Implantable Cardioverter/Defibrillator
AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
AIQ Available In Quarters
AIS Accident Investigation Section (VICPOL) (Australia)
AIS Associazione Italiana Soccorritori (Italian Rescuers Association)
ALI Automatic Location Identification/Address Location Identification (911)
ALS Advanced Life Support
ALSOB Alcohol Like Substance On Breath
AMA Against Medical Advice
AMA Ambulance Medical Assistant (South Africa, before 1991, = EMT-I)
Ambo Ambulance Officer (Australia)
AMI Acute Myocardial Infarction
AMPA Air Medical Physician Association (US)
AMR American Medical Response (private but large operator of EMS)
AMTRAK ? US railway company/agency. Is it an acronym?
ANI ? (also used to denote radio unit number identifiers.)
ANI Automatic Number Identification (telephony/911)
ANLS Advanced Neurological Life Support
ANP Advanced Nurse Practictioner
ANPAS Associazione Nazionale Pubbliche Assistenze (National Ambulance Companies Association) (Italy)
A/O Alert and Oriented
A/O Ambulance Officer
AO Ambulance Officer
AO Apparatus Operator
AOA American Osteopathic Association
AOB Alcohol On Breath
AOPPT Alert Oriented ?
AOR Available On Radio
AOS Arrived On Scene
A&Ox4 Alert & Oriented to (person/place/time-date/condition-circumstance)
APCO Associated Public-safety Communications Officers
APE Acute Pulmonary Edema
APE Acute Pulmonary Embolism
APE Apparatus, Personnel, and Equipment
APPA Alberta Prehospital Professions Association
ARC American Red Cross
ARC Australian Resuscitation Council
ARCHIE Automated Resouce for Chemical Hazard Incident Evaluation
ARCS Australian Red Cross Society
ARDA American Rescue Dog Association
ARDS Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome ? ARDS ... DaNang or shock lung
ARES Amateur Radio Emergency Service
ARFD Airport Rescue Fire Depts.
ARFF Airport Rescue Fire Fighters/Firefighting
AS American Samoa (US)
as Auricle Sinistrus (Left Ear)
ASE ? like ASE for auto mechanic's.
ASHD Arteriosclerotic Heart Disease
ASRT Alarm System Response Team
ASTM American Society for Testing & Materials
ASV Ambulance Service Victoria (Australia)
ATC Air Traffic Control
ATF Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (US Government)
ATLS Advanced Trauma Life Support
ATS American Trauma Society
au Right Ear
AV Atrial Ventricular ? ... EKG showed 3rd degree AV block
AVL Automatic Vehicle Locator
BA Breathing Apparatus
BAC Basic Ambulance Course (South Africa, level 4 = EMT-A)
BAC Blood Alcohol Content
BAEMT British Association of EMTs (formerly Paramedic UK)
BASIC Bleeding, Airway, Shock, Immoblization after classification
BATF Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (US Government)
BBP Blood-Borne Pathogen
BBS Bulletin Board System
BC British Columbia (province) (Canada)
BCAS British Columbia Ambulance Service
BCLS Basic Cardiac Life Support
BD BenzoDiazepine
BERT Bicycle Emergency Response Team
BEST Bureau of Emergency Services Telecommunications (Victoria Australia)
BFB Bush Fire Brigade (Australia)
BFBB Bush Fire Brigade Board (Western Australia)
BFRL Building and Fire Research Laboratory
BID Twice Daily (as in meds)
BiPAP BILEVEL or BIPHASIC positive airway pressure ... "BiPAP" is a tradename
BIQ Back in Quarters
BLEVE Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion
BLM Bureau of Land Management (US)
BLS Basic Life Support
BLS Bureau of Labor Standards (Maine and others)
BNAS Bell Neutral Answer Service (911 Ontario)
BNTI Blind NasoTracheal Intubation
B/P Blood Pressure
BP Blood Pressure
BRT Big Red Trucks
BS Bachelor of Science (has other meanings...)
BSI ? ... wear BSI. I wear gloves and protective
BSI ? I was an EMT instructor (PWI and BSI,back when they had those things)
BSN Bachelor of Science in Nursing
BTLS Basic Trauma Life Support
BTW By The Way (INTERNET)
Bushie Member of Bush Fire Brigade (Australia)
BVM Bag Valve Mask (Ambu Bag (tm))
BZD BenZoDiazepine
CA California (US state)
CA Canada
CA Cancer
CAAMS Commission on the Acreditation of Air Medical Services (US)
CAAS Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (US)
CABA Compressed Air Breathing Apparatus
CABG Coronary Arterial Bypass Graft
CAD Computer Aided Dispatch
CAD Coronary Artery Disease
CAEMS California Emergency Medical Services Mail List (Internet)
CAFS ? ... class A foam (especially CAFS) and other
CAMEO Computer Assisted Management of Emergency Operations
CAOx4 Conscious, Alert, and Oriented x4
CAP Civil Air Patrol
CAS Chemical Abstracts - usually CAS number (Hazmat)
CAS Children's Aid Society (Ontario, Canada)
CAT Computer Aided/Axial Tomography ?
CB Citizen's Band, 27 MHz radio (US)
CBC ? Blood Count
CC Chief Complaint
CCA Critical Care Assistant (Level 7 - Paramedic)
CCP Casualty Collection Points
CCRN Critical Care Registered Nurse
CCU Cardiac Care Unit
CCU Critical Care Unit
CDA Communications Decency Act (US)
CDC Centers for Disease Control (US government)
CDF California Department of Forestry
CEM Certified Emergency Manager
CEN Certified Emergency Nurse
CERB Central Emergency Reporting Bureau (911)
CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liablity Act (US) (hazmat
CET Certified Engineering Technician
CEU Continuing Education Units (a metric, not an organization)
CFA Country Fire Authority (Australia)
CFR Certified First Responder
CFR Code of Federal Regulations (US)
CFR Crash Fire Rescue (airports)
CFS Country Fire Service (South Australia)
CHF Congestive Heart Failure
CI ContraIndications (?)
CID Cervical Immobilization Device ? ... headstrap, in a pinch.
CIERA Canadian Industrial Emergency Response Association
CIH Certified Industrial Hygienist
CIS Commonwealth of Independent States (republics of former USSR)
CIS Critical Incident Stress
CISD Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
CISM Critical Incident Stress Management
CLI Call Line ID (seen from Australia) (telephony)
CMA Canadian Medical Association
CME Continuing Medical Education
CMTI Community Medical Transport, Inc.
CNA Certified Nurse's Aide
CNID Calling Number Identification (telephony)
CNN Cable Network News (TV)
CNS Central Nervous System
CO Carbon Monoxide
CO Colorado
C/O Complains Of
CO2 carbon dioxide
COAD ? ...Salbutamol is also given to Asthma, COAD, Cystic fibrosis, smoke
COBRA Comprehensive Omnibus Budgetary Reconcilation Act (US law)
CONTOMS ? All team members have attended the CONTOMS course...
COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
CP Chest Pain
C/P Chest Pain
CPAP Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
CPR Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation
CPREF California Prehospital Research and Education Foundation
CQS Continual Quality Service
CRNA Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
CRPA California Rescue Paramedics Assoc
CRT Cardiac Rescue Technician
CRT Certified Radiology Technician/Technologist
CRT Certified Rescue Technician
CSAP Canadian Society of Ambulance Personnel
CSF Cerebral Spinal Fluid
CSPS Canadian Ski Patrol System
CT Computerized Tomography
CT Connecticut (US state)
CTC Critical Trauma Care (Primarily New York State)
CTCSS Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System
CTD ? ...Before going CTD ...
CTD Close To Death
CTS Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
CVA Cerebro-vascular Accident
CVA costovertebral angle.
CXR ? (excluding the obvious technical limitations of CXR and lab values)
CYA Cover Your (Anatomy)
D5W Dextrose 5% in Water (IV)
DAA Denitrogenation Absorption Atelectasis
DAN Diver's Alert Network
DC DisConnect
D/C DisContinue
DC District of Columbia (US)
DCS Digital Coded Squelch
DE Delaware (US state)
DEMC District Emergency Management Committee (Australia)
DEMO District Emergency Management Officer (Australia)
DES DiEthyl Stilbestrol
DES Disaster and Emergency Services
DETC ... ACPM is accredited by the DETC.
DIC Dead in Car
DIC Dimminishment In Capacity ? ... lungs ... significant DIC, that didn't help
Dip PEC Post-grad diploma for Dr in E.med eg.:MBChB.DipPEC
DIVCON Divisional Controller (SES) (Australia)
DKA Diabetic KetoAcidosis (diabetic coma)
DMAT Disaster Medical Assistance Team
DNI Do Not Intubate (similar to DNR)
DNR Do Not Resuscitate
DOA Dead On Arrival
DOB Date Of Birth
DOH Department Of Health
DOT Department of Transport
DOT Department of Transportation (US)
DP Direct Pressure
DPC Disaster Preparedness Commission (NYS)
DPL ? ...definitely if the DPL is positive, maybe a CT if neg.
DPL Digital Private Line
DPS Department of Public Safety
DRL Daytime Running Lights
DSU Distress Signal Unit
DTMF Dual Tone Multi Frequency
DUI Driving Under the Influence
DWAI Driving While Ability Impaired
DWI Driving While Impaired/Intoxicated
Dx Diagnosis
E000 Enhanced triple 0 (the Australian system for delivering number/address)
E911 Enhanced 911 (the system that displays calling number and address)
EARV Emergency Ambulance Response Vehicle
EATES European Association on Trauma and Emergency Surgery
ECA Emergency Care Attendant
ECC Emergency Co-ordination Centre (Australia)
ECG Electro CardioGram
ECIC Emergency Care Information Center (US)
ECLIPS [Australian E000 database of customer address for emergency calls]
ECRI Emergency Care Research Institute (US)
ED Emergency Department
EDNA Emergency Department Nurses Association
EDP Emotionally Disturbed Person (same as MO)
EEG ElectroEncephaloGram
EENT Ears,Eyes,Nose And Throat
EF ? (She was in CHF with an EF of 30%!)
EGTA ? Airway
EHS Emergency Health Services
EHS Extremely Hazardous Substance (hazmat)
EJ External Jugular ? (IV related) (next would have been an EJ....)
EKG ElectroCardioGram (old, from German ElectroKardioGram)
ELASTIC Education for Latex Allergy / Support Team & Information Coalition)
ELCB Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers aka GFCI
ELT Emergency Locator Transmitter
EMA Emergency Management Agency (old Civil Defense) (US)
EMA Emergency Management Australia (formerly NDO) (Australia)
EMA Emergency Medical Assistant
EMCA Emergency Medical Care Attendant ? (Ontario)
EMD ElectroMechanical Dissociation (cardiac)
EMD Emergency Medical Dispatcher
EMP Emergency Medical Practicioner?
EMP Emergency Medical Programs/Planning?
EMR Emergency Medical Responder
EMR Emergency Medical Response (Australia)
EMS Emergency Medical Services
EMS-C Emergency Medical Services for Children
EMSI Emergency Medical Services Instructor
EMT Emergency Medical Technician
EMT-A Ambulance
EMT-AD Automatic Defibrillator
EMTALA Emergency Medical Treatment And Labor Act
EMT-B Basic
EMT-CC Critical Care
EMT-CT Cardiac Tech
EMT-D Defibrillator
EMT-FR First Responder
EMT-FS Fire service, OBSOLETE
EMT-I Intermediate
EMT-M MAST (PA)
EMT-NA non ambulance OBSOLETE
EMT-P Paramedic
EMT-ST Shock Trauma
EMT-T EMT-Tactical
EMT-W Wilderness EMT
ENA Emergency Nursing Association
EOC Emergency Operations Centre (Australia)
EOH Ethyl Alcohol
EPA Environmental Protection Agency (US) (hazmat)
EPAP EXPIRATORY postive airway pressure
EPI EPInephrine
ER Emergency Room
ERP Emergency Room Physician ?
ERS Emergency Response System
ERT Emergency Response Team
ESD Emergency Services Department (another term for ER)
ESDA Emergency Services & Disaster Agency (previous name for EMA)
ESN Emergency Service Number (911)
ESOP Enhanced (or Expanded) Scope Of Practice
ESU Emergency Service Unit
ET EndoTracheal (tube)
ETA Estimated Time of Arrival
ETI EndoTracheal Intubation ?
ETOH Ethanol (Ethyl Alcohol)
ETT EndoTracheal Tube
EVOC Emergency Vehicle Operation and Control
EVS Emergency Vehicle Status (Australia)
EVT Emergency Vehicle Tech I
EW Emergency Ward
FAA Federal Aviation Administration (US)
FACOG Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
FALN Fuerza Armada para Liberacion Nacional (Puerto Rican Liberation Army)
FAQ Frequently Asked/Answered Questions (list) (INTERNET)
FART Fire Alarm Response Team
FAS First Aid Squad
FB Foreign Body
FD Fire Department
F&D Fixed and Dilated (pupils)
FDA Food And Drug Adminstration (US)
FDIC Fire Department Instructors Conference
FDSOA ?
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency (US)
FF Firefighter
FFAO FireFighters Association of Ontario?
FHR Fetal Heart Rate
FHT Fetal Heart Tones
FiO2 fraction of inspired oxygen
FIRESCOPE FIrefighting REsources of Southern California Organized for Potential Emergencies
FL Florida (US state)
FLSA Fair Labor Standards Act (Chapter 7, 29 U.S.C.) (US law)
FM Federated States of Micronesia (US)
FM Fire Marshall
FM Frequency Modulated (radio)
FMJ Full Metal Jacket (firearms)
FOTS Food on the Stove
FOTW Food on the Wok
FPE Fire Protection Engineer
FR Fire Resistive
FR First Response/First Responder
FS Food safety ? ...USDA FS IMS Program
FSDO Flight Service District Office
Fx Fracture
GFCI Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter aka RCD or ELCB
GFI Ground Fault Interupter OBSOLETE, GFCI preferred
GI Gastro-Intestinal
GIS Geographic Information System
GM General Motors
GOA Gone On Arrival
GOMER Get Out of My ER
GPS Global Positioning System
GRS General Radio Service, 27 MHz radio (Canada)
GS Good Samaritan (law)
GS Government Service ?
GSAR Ground Search And Rescue
GSW Gun Shot Wound
GSW GunShot Wound
GU Genito-Urinary
GU Guam (US)
GVW Gross Vehicle Weight
H2S hydrogen sulfide
HA Hawaii (US state)
HAI Helicopter Association International (US)
HASE Health and Safety Education (Australian Red Cross)
HASHD Hypertensive ArterioSclerotic Heart Disease
HCFA Health Care Financing Administration (US Medicare)
HCW Health Care Workers
HEENT Head Eyes Ears Nose and Throat
HEPA High Efficiency Particulate Air (filter/mask)
HIV Human Immuno-deficiency Virus
HMO Health Maintenance Organization
HR Heart Rate
HTN Hypertension
HTN Hypo/Hyper Tension
HTR Heavy Tactical Rescue
HVAC Harrison Volunteer Ambulance Corps (publish an email newsletter)
HVAC Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning
HVAC High Voltage Alternating Current
Hx History
HZ Hazard Zone
IABP Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump
IAEP ? a union
IAFC International Association of Fire Chiefs
IAFF International Association of Fire Fighters
IC Incident Commander
I/C Instructor/Coordinator
ICH Intra-Cranical Hemorrage (?) (... ICH that makes some people scream)
ICP IntraCranial Pressure
ICS Incident Command System
ICU Intensive Care Unit
ID Idaho (US state)
ID Identify/Indentification
IDDM Insulin Dependent Diabetes Melittus
IFSTA International Fire Service Training Association (US)
IHS Indian Health Service (US)
IL Illinois (US state)
ILOD In the Line Of Duty
IM Intramuscular (injection)
IMS Incident Management System
IN Indiana (US state)
IPAP INSPIRATORY positive airway pressure
IPPB Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing
ISO International Organization for Standarization (not an acronym)
IT Instructor Trainer (one who trains instructors)
ITU Intensive Therapy Unit (?)
IUD IntraUterine Device
IV IntraVenous
IVP ? then a follow-up with an IVP and found a 7.5 mm stone.
IVPB IntraVenous Piggy Back
IVT IntraVenous Technician
JAMA Journal of the American Medical Association
JCAHO ? licencing people and probably the JCAHO.
JEMS Journal of Emergency Medical Services
Johnnie Member of St. John Ambulance Association
JOL Jaws of Life
JRC Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs for EMT-P (US)
K-9 canine
KED Kendrick Extrication Device
KTD Kendrick Traction Device
KUB ? We performed a KUB with views of a possible stone and
KVO Keep Veins Open
KY Kentucky (US state)
LAS Lights And Siren
LBB Long Back Board
LCON Local Controller (SES) (Australia)
LDH Large Diameter Hose
LE Law Enforcement
LE Lower Extremities
LEAN mnemonic for Lidocaine, Epi, Atropine, Narcan
LEL Lower Explosive Limit (Hazmat)
LEMC Local Emergency Management Committee (Australia)
LEMO Local Emergency Management Officer (Australia)
LEO Law Enforcement Officer
LEPC Local Emergency Planning Committee (US) (hazmat)
LHQ Local Headquarters (SES Australia)
LLQ Left Lower Quadrant
LMA Laryngeal Mask Airway
LMP Last Menstrual Period
LOC Level of Consciousness
LOL Little Old Lady (affectionate)
LOSAP Length Of Service Award Programs
LOX Liquid Oxygen
L-P Luecophoeresis ? ...sepsis work-ups require L-P ...
LPG Liquified Petroleum Gas
LPM Litres Per Minute (oxygen)
LPN Licensed Practical Nurse
LR Lactated Ringers (IV solution)
LRS Lactated Ringers Solution
LSB Long Spine Board
LUQ Left Upper Quadrant
LZ Landing Zone (aeromedical)
MA Massachussets (US state)
MAC Medical Advisory Committee (MD's who approve ALS Standing Orders)
MACS Multi-Agency Coordination System
MAE Moves All Extremities
MAEW ?, chest OK, MAEW, hemodynamically stable, then what good is an IV
MAS Melbourne Ambulance Service (Australia)
MAST Metro Arson Strike Team
MAST Military Anti Shock Trousers
MB Manitoba (province) (Canada)
MBChB Medical Doctor (S.A. and most British ex-colonies)
MC Medical Control
MCA Motor Car Accident (Australia)
MCA Motorcycle Accident
MCEP Medical Control Emergency Physician
MCI Mass Casualty Incident
MCI MyoCardial Infarcation
MD Maryland (US state)
MD Medical Doctor
MDMA 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine ("ecstasy")
MDT Mobile Data Terminal(s)
ME Maine (US state)
ME Medical Examiner
MELREF Melways Map Reference (Melbourne Australia)
MERO Municipal Emergency Resource Officer (Australia)
MERV Medical Emergency Response Vehicle
MERV Medical Emergency Room Vehicle
MetHB methemoglobin
MFA Malicious False Alarm
MFB Metro Fire Brigade (or it's Melbourne Fire Brigade)
MFIRS ? Reporting System
MH Marshall Islands (US)
MHA ? MHA's and generally combative patients.
MHz MegaHertz, unit of frequency
MI Michigan (US state)
MI Myocardial Infarction
MICA Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance
MICN Mobile Intensive Care Nurse
MICP Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic
MICT Mobile Intensive Care Technician
MICU Mobile Intensive Care Unit
MMed Medical Specialist (S.A.)
MMFB Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade (Australia)
MN Minnesota
MO Mental Observation (psych pt)
MO Missouri
MOE Ministry of the Environment (Ontario, Canada)
MOH Ministry of Health
MOI Mechanism Of Injury
MOS Member Of Service
MP Military Police (officer)
MP Northern Mariana Islands (US)
MPDS Medical Priority Dispatch System
MPPA Manitoba Prehospital Professions Association
MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MRSA ? a disease ...we may not die from it, our next patient can...
MRT Medical Response Technician
MS Morphine Sulfate
MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet
MSE ? ... into intercept, pt is MSE is unchanged ...
MSOTW Man Slumped Over The Wheel
MVA Motor Vehicle Accident
NAD No Acute Distress (Interchangable)
NAD No Apparent Distress (Interchangable)
NAEMSP National Assoc. of EMS Physicians
NAEMSP National Association of EMS Physicians (US)
NAEMT National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (US)
NALS Neonatal Advanced Life Support ... (renamed NRP)
NAS National Academy of Science(s?) (US)
NASAR National Association for Search and Rescue
NASEMSD National Association of State EMS Directors (US)
NAVEL mnemonic for Narcan, Atropine, Valium, Epi, Lido OBSOLETE
NBC Nuclear, Biological, Chemical
NC Nasal Cannula
NC North Carolina (US state)
NCEMSF National Collegiate Emergency Medical Service Foundation
NCO NonCommisioned Officer
NCOIC NonCommissioned Officer In Charge ? (Security reaction forces NCOIC,)
NCRC National Cave Rescue Commission
NCSEMSTC National Council of State EMS Training Coordinators (US)
NDipAET National Dipl. Ambulance & Emergency Tech (ZA, level 8 = paramedic)
N.DipEC National Diploma in Emerg. Care (Paramedic, S.A., Natal and Transvaal)
NDMS National Disaster Medical System (US)
NDO National Disasters Organisation (Australia)
NECEMS The New England Council for EMS
NEMA National Emergency Management Association (US)
NEMSA National EMS Alliance (US)
NEMSPA National EMS Pilots Association (US)
NENA National Emergency Number Association (9-1-1)
NERT Nuclear Emergency Response Team (Canada)
NEST Nuclear Emergency Search Team (USA)
NF Newfoundland (province) (Canada)
NFA National Fire Academy (US)
NFIC National Fire Information Center
NFIRS National Fire Incident Reporting System
NFNA National Flight Nurses Association (US)
NFPA National Fire Protection Association
NFPA National Flight Paramedics Association (US)
NG NasoGastric
NHS National Health Service (UK)
NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (US)
NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (US)
NIST National Institute of Science and Technology
NIUSAR National Institute for Urban Search & Rescue (US)
NJ New Jersey (US state)
NKDA No Known Drug Allergies
NLM National Library of Medicine (US)
NP Nurse Practitioner
NPA Nasopharyngeal Airway
NPO Nil Per Os (Nil per mouth)
NPQ Not Physically Qualified
NPR National Public Radio (US Government)
NPRM Notice of Proposed Rule Making (US FCC)
NPSH NeoPrene Supported Hose ? >... two inch NPSH unless its a suction line
NPWS National Parks and Wildlife Service (Australia)
NR National Registry
NRB Non-ReBreathing (mask)
NRC National Research Council (US, Canada)
NREMT National Registry Emergency Medical Technician test (US)
NREMT Nationally Registered EMT (US) REMT is preferred
NRFM Non-Rebreathing Face Mask
NRP Nationally Registered Paramedic? REMT is preferred ?
NRV Non-Rebreathing Valve
NS Normal Saline (IV)
NS Nova Scotia (province) (Canada)
NSAID NonSteroidal AntiInflamatory Drug
NSR Normal Sinus Rhythm
NSRI National Sea Rescue Institute (S.A. volunteer sea rescue)
NSW New South Wales (state) (Australia)
NSWSES New South Wales State Emergency Service (Australia)
NT NasoTracheal
N/T No Tenderness/Not Tender
NT Northern Teritory (Australia)
NT Northwest Territories (territory) (Canada)
NTES Northern Territory Emergency Service (Australia)
NTG NiTroGylcerin
NTSB National Transportation Safety Board (US)
NV Nevada (US state)
NVFC National Volunteer Fire Council
NVOAD National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters
NWT NorthWest Territories (territory) (Canada)
NY New York (US state and city)
NYC New York City
NYS New York State (US state)
O2 Oxygen
OCD Operations Control Division
OD Overdose
OEM Office of Emergency Management
OEM Other/Original Equipment Manufacturer
OEMS Office of Emergency Medical Services
OG Orogastric
OH Ohio (US state)
OHSA Occupational Health and Safety Act (Ontario)
OIC Officer in Charge
OK Oklahoma (US state)
OKC Oklahoma City (US)
OLMC On-Line Medical Control
OLS Office of Life Safety (IAFC)
ON Ontario (province) (Canada)
OPA Ontario Paramedic Asociation
OPA Oropharyngeal Airway
OPA ? (unconcious, no reaction to OPA or ... sternal)
OPCS Organization de la Patrouille Canadienne de Ski
OR Oregon (US state)
os Occuli Sinistrus (Left Eye)
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration (USA)
O-sign unresponsive person with mouth open and tongue still in mouth
OTC over-the-counter
ou Right Eye
PA Pennsylvania (US state)
PA Physician Assistant
PA-C Physician Assistant-Certified (there are UNcertified PAs??)
PaCO2 arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide
PADI Professional Association of Diving Instructors
PAI ? dispatching
PALS Pediatric Advanced Life Support
PaO2 arterial partial pressure of oxygen
PAR Personnel Accountability Report
PAS Personnel Accountability System
PASG Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment
PASS Personal Alert Safety System
PAT Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia
PAT Personnel Accountability Tag
PAT Pre-employment Assessment Test ?
PATA Professional Aeromedical Transportation Association (US)
PC Personal Computer
PC Politically Correct
PCCU Pediatric Cardiac Care Unit
PCR Patient Care Record/Report
PD Police Department
PDA Property Damage Accident (MVA w/out injuries)
PDO Property Damage Only
PDR Physicians Desk Reference
PE Physical Examination
PE Prince Edward Island (province) (Canada)
PE Pulmonary Edema
PE Pulmonary Embolism
PEA Pulseless Electrical Activity (cardiac)
PEARL Pupils Equal And Reactive to Light (discouraged)
PEC Prehospital Emerg Care (S.A.Red Cross bridging course to ECA)
PEEP positive end-expiratory pressure
PEI Prince Edward Island (province) (Canada)
PEP postexposure prophylaxis
PERL Pupils Equal and Reactive to Light
PERLA Pupils Equal and Reactive to Light and Accomodation
PERRL Pupils Equal, Round, and Reactive to Light
PERRLA Pupils Equal, Round, and Reactive to Light and Accomodation
PERS Public Emergency Reporting System (911)
PET Positron Emission Tomography
PetCO2 ?
PEV Plateau Exhalation Valve/Device (PEV),
PFO Pissed (drunk) and Fell Over (from Australia)
pH concentration of hydrogen ions
PH PreHospital
PHS Public Health Service
PHTLS Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support
PIA Personal Injury Accident (MVA involving injuries)
PICU Pedeatric Intensive Care Unit
PID Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
PIO Public Information Officer
PIO Public Information Officer
PIPSTA Placed in Service Prior to Arrival
PISS Pin Index Safety System
PLB Personal Locator Beacon
PLS Pediatric Life Support
PM ParaMedic
PMHx Priori/Previous Medical History
PMS ? ... CNS/PMS rechecked after every patient movement and intervention.
PMX Prior Medical eXperience ?
PND Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea
PNS Peripheral Nervous System
PO Peace Officer
PO Per os (by mouth)
PO Police Officer
PO2
POQ "Piss off quick!!!!" (Get out of a dangerous situation) (Australia)
POST Peace Officer Standards of Training
POV Privately Owned Vehicle
PPE Personal Protective Equipment
PPV Positive Pressure Ventialtion
PR per rectum
PR Public Relations
PR Puerto Rico (US)
PRN To take as needed (meds)
PROM Premature Rupture Of Membranes
PSAP Public Safety Answering Point (911)
PSBT pyrotechnical seat belt tensioner
PSC prehospital surgical cricothyrotomy (PSC),
PSDP Public Safety Dispatch Point (911)
PSO Public Safety Officer ?
PSVT ? The patient was suffering chest pain radiating into
PT patient
PTCA ? (The airway was secure ... until the PTCA was over)
PTL airway
PVC Premature Ventricular Contraction
PW Pressurized Water fire extinguisher
PWI ? I was an EMT instructor (PWI and BSI,back when they had those things)
QA Quality Assurance
QC Quality Control
QC Quebec (province) (Canada)
QC Quick Connect
QID Four times daily (meds)
QLD Queensland (Australia) (state)
QR Quick Release
QRS Quick Response Squad
QRT Quick Response Team
QRV Quick Response Vehicle
QSES Queensland State Emergency Service (Australia)
Q-sign unresponsive person with mouth open and tongue hanging out
RACES Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services - amateur radio in EMA
RAPID Railroad Accident Prevention and Immediate Deployment (CA US) (hazmat)
RAR Road Accident Rescue (Australia)
RCD Residual Current Device aka GFCI
RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (US) (hazmat)
REACT Radio Emergency Association Communications Team International (US)
REMT Registered EMT (NREMT)
REP Regional Evacuation Point
RERB Remote Emergency Reporting Bureau (911)
RFDS Royal Flying Doctor Service (Australia)
RFP Request For Proposal
RFQ Request For Quotation
RFS Rural Fire Service
RI Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (US state)
RL Ringer's Lactate (IV)
RLAS Red Lights And Sirens
RLQ Right Lower Quadrant
RLS Red Lights & Sirens
RLSSC Royal Life Saving Society Canada
RM Rescue Medic (South Africa)
RMA Refuse[s] Medical Assistance
RN Registered Nurse
RNA Registered Nursing Assistant
RNLI Royal National Lifeboat Institution (U.K.)
r/o ? r/o obstructions, and gastric emptying in certain cases
RO Radio Officer
ROM ? ... Pt. unable to follow commands to squeeze/push on ROM exam...
ROT Rule Of Thumb
RP Reporting Party
RQ Reportable Quantity (hazmat)
RR
RS Rescue Squad
RSD Reflex Sympathetic Disorder
RSI Rapid Sequence Induction
RSI Repetitive Strain Injuries
RSR Regular Sinus Rhythym
RSV Respiratory Syncitial Virus
RT Respiratory Therapist
RTA Road Traffic Accident
RUQ Right Upper Quadrant
Rx Prescription
SA South Australia (state)
SABA Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus
SAED SemiAutomatic External Defibrillator
SAEM Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (US)
SaO2 O2 Saturation (pulse oximetry)
SAR Search And Rescue
SARA Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (US) (hazmat)
SASES South Australia State Emergency Service (Australia)
SC South Carolina (US state)
SC Subcutaneous
SCAT Special Casualty Access Team (Australia)
SCBA Self Contained Breathing Apparatus
SCUBA Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus
SD Sherrif's Department
SE ? (names, indications, SE, CI, and...)
SERC State Emergency Response Committee (US) (hazmat)
SES State Emergency Service (Australia)
SFA Standard First Aid
SFM Simple Face Mask
SIDS Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
SIMS Standardized Incident Management System
SIPS side impact protection systems
SITREP Situation Report
SK Saskatchewan (province) (Canada)
SL SubLingual
SLASA Surf Life-saving Association of South Africa
SLUD Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Defecation (pesticide poisoning)
SMO Standing Medical Orders
Smokie Firefighter (Australia)
SO Sherrif's Office
S/O Station Officer (Australia)
SOB Shortness Of Breath
SOG Special Operations Group (VICPOL) (Australia)
SOG Standard Operating Guidelines
SOP Standard Operating Procedure
Spo2
SQ Subcutaneous (pronounced subQtaneous, more common of the two)
SRS Supplemental Restraint System (airbag)
SRS Supplementary Restrain System (automotive)
S/S Signs and Symptoms
SSM System Status Management
SSM System Status Manager
SSN Social Security Number
SSO Senior Station Officer
SSP ?our management is looking at reinstall the SSP/SSM system of ambulance
SSRI Serotonin Serial Reuptake Inhibitor
ST Sinus Tachycardia (?) (Straight from ST to asystole.)
STAR Special Trauma And Rescue team
START Simple Triage And Rapid Triage
SUNY State University of New York
SVT Supra-Ventricular Tachycardia
SWAT Special Weapons And Tactics
Sx Surgery
Sx Symptoms/Signs
TA Traffic Accident
TAS Tasmania (Australia)
TB Trouble Breathing
TB Tuberculosis
TBF Total Body Failure
TBI ? Today, pt. is five years post TBI, with partial complex
TC telecommunicator
TC Traffic Collisions (preferred to TA by POST)
TCA Tricyclic Anti Depressant
TDG Transport of Dangerous Goods
TDH Texas Department of Health
TEU ? Medical Support ... SWAT/TEU team for the past two years.
TIA Technical Interim Amendment (NFPA)
TIA Transient Ischemic Attack (mini-stroke)
TICK Teamwork, Integrity, Courage, Knowledge
TID Three Times Daily (meds)
TKO To Keep Open
TM Tympanic Membrane
TMU-A Technicien Medical d'Urgence - Ambulance
TOG Traffic Operations Group (VICPOL) (Australia)
TOP Topically
TPA Thrombolytic ? ... with TPA & Heprin ready ...
TPQ Threshold Planning Quanity (hazmat)
TPR Temperature, Pulse, Respirations
TQM Total Quality Management
T&R Treat and Release
TRI Toxic Release Inventory (US) (hazmat)
TSCA Toxic Substance Control Act (US) (hazmat)
TSES Tasmainian State Emergency Service (Australia)
Tx Treatment
Txp Transport
UCR Uniform Crime Reporting (system)
UEL Upper Explosive Limit (hazmat)
UHF Ultra High Frequency (radio)
UHU Unit Hourly Utilization
UK United Kingdom
UMBC University of Maryland Baltimore County
URI Upper Respiratory Infection
US United States
USA United States of America
USAF United States Air Force
USDA US Department of Agriculture (US Government)
USFA US Fire Administration
USFS United States Forest Service
USLA United States Lifesaving Association
USPHS US Public Health Service
UT Utah (US state)
VA Veteran's Administration (US Government)
VA Virginia (US state)
VAC Volunteer Ambulance Corps
VAD Voluntary Aid Detachment (Red Cross) (Australia)
VASC Voluntary Aid Service Corps (Red Cross) (Australia)
VAVRS Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads
VDT Video Display Terminal
VF Ventricular Fibrillation
VFD Volunteer Fire Department
V-fib Ventricular Fibrilation
VHF Very High Frequency (radio)
VHQ Victorian State Headquarters (SES Australia)
VI Virgin Islands (US)
VIC Victoria (Australia) (state)
VICPOL Victoria Police (Australia)
VICSES Victoria State Emergency Service (Australia)
VPB Ventricular Premature Beat
VPC Ventricular Premature Contraction
VRA Voluntary Rescue Association (Australia)
VRE Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus?
VRS Volunteer Rescue Squad
VRT Vertical Rescue Technician (Australia)
VSA Vital Signs Absent
VT Vermont (US state)
VY ? (state)
WA Washington (US state)
WA Western Australia (state)
WADEM World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine
WAFBB WA Fire Brigades Board
WASES Western Australia State Emergency Service (Australia)
WD Warm/Dry
WEMT Wilderness EMT
WFR Wilderness First Response
WFS Women in the Fire Service, Inc.
WHMIS Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (hazmat) (Ontario)
WI Wisconsin (US state)
WIC Women, Infants, and Children
WNL Within Normal Limits.......
WO wide open (?) (IV)
WPD Warm, Pink, Dry (skin signs)
WTC World Trade Center
WV West Virginia (US state)
WWW World Wide Web (INTERNET)
YMMV Your Mileage May Vary (INTERNET)
Y/O year-old
YOWM Year Old White Male
YT Yukon (territory) (Canada)
ZA South Africa (INTERNET domain)
ZDV zidovudine
--
Henry Troup
hwt@igs.net I am responsible for these opinions.
...here are the acronyms you shouldn't use on your PCR's: (Patient Care Report)
AMFYOYO Adios Mother F***er your on your own
BOHICA Bend Over Here It Comes Again ;)
BTFOM Beats The F* Outta Me
BTHFOM Beats The Hairy F* Outta Me
BTW Balls To the Wall
BWS Beached Whale Syndrome
CF Cluster F*ck
CCFCCP Coo Coo For CoaCoa Puffs
CHAOS Chief has Arrived on the scene
CMP-Certified Medical People
CPR Come Put-em-ta Rest
CRAFT Can't Remember A F___ing Thing
CRS Can't remember shit
CSCC c-spine clearing canines
CTD Circling The Drain (see: Close To Death)
CYA Cover your ass
DFO Done Fell Out (or Over)
DFO-SFJ Done Fell Out Screaming For Jeezus
DFU Done F**ked Up
DICCOMNAVAB Dictionary of Common Naval Abreviations (US Navy)
DIN Dispatcher Is (going) Nuts - too many alarms
DIRTBAG Dirty Indigent Requesting Transport Because Alchohol Gives him seizures
DOASTW Dead On Arrival, and Stayed That Way
DRT Dead right there
DRTTTT Dead Right There, There, There, and There
(used after pedestrian/train altercations)
DSA Dying Spoata Act (Usually accomp. with tachyLORDYa)
DVR Darth Vader Respirations
DWO Driving While Oriental
DWPA died w/ paramedic assistance
EKGFLB EKGs funny little bumps
EMS earn money sleeping
EMT-B-Effortlessly Medicaly Trained-Brain Dead People
EMT early morning transporter
EMT Extra-ordinary Masochistic Tendencies
EMT Every Menial Task
EMT-I-Effectively Medicaly Trained-Idiots
EMT-NP EMT Nasal Plumber
EMT-P Every Menial Task PlusEMT-P-Efficently Medicaly Trained-People
FD fu**ing drunk
FDGB Fall Down... Go Boom
FIBD Found In Bed Dead
FLB funny little beats
FNG frigging new guy
FORD Found On Road Dead
FUBAR Fouled/Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition/Redemption
GDA gonna die anyway
GOMA Get out of My Ambulance
GOMER Get Out of My Emergency Room
GPH Goddamns Per Hour
GSH Giant Sweat Hog
HBD (or SBD) (S)he Be Dead
HIF Hysterical Italian Family (Can be interchangeable)
HMFIC Head Mother Fucker in Charge
IBM Incredible Barfing Man
IDM it don't matter
IJADAD I'm Just A Dumb Ambulance Driver
(Used in court after a bad call, "I was driving, I didn't even touch
the pt)
IUD (no, wait... wrong subject. oops!)
JAFO Just Another Freaking Observer
JFA Jive Funk Attack or Just F**king Around
LASGLH Lights and sirens go like hell
LOL Little old Lady
LOL FOF NAD Little old lady, found on floor, in no acute distress.
LOLINAD little old lady in no apparent distress
LTD-Lower Than Doctors
MAGGOT Medically Able, Go get Other Transportation
MDFO Multiple Done Fell Out
MFFLB multifocal funny little beats (see FLB)
MICN May I interrupt (your) Call Now
MMMMW My Mother Made Me a Wimp
MTF Metabolize To Freedom
NKDA Not Known, Didn't Ask
Noddy affectionate term for security guards (big ears, silly hats!) (UK)
OWO On the way out.
NTID Non Traumatic Injury, Dumbass!
PD Pretty Drunk
PGBFH ParaGoddess B*tch From Hell (do not assume a PGBFH is female)
PIA Pain In the ass
PID Paramedic Induced Death
PIM patient is mangled
PITA Pain In The ass
PST Positive Samsonite Tendencies, as in the pt. greets you at the door
with suitcase in hand
PUHA Pick up Haul ASS!
PVL Patient Very Large
S2D2 See SSDD
SCENE Severe Coronary Event, Not Ending
SHPOS Sub-Human Piece of S---
SID Spoata In Distress (Spoata's are those that think abusing EMS is
their God given right! - "You Spoata take take me to da hospitil")
SNAFU Situation Normal, All Fouled/Fucked Up
SOCMOB Standing On the Corner, Minding my Own Business
SOI Shit On It
SOL Shit Outta Luck
SOS,DD Same Old Shit, Different Day
Squirrel a zealous firefighter
SSDD same shit different day
SWAG Scientific Wild Ass Guess
TMB too many birthdays
TRO Time Ran Out.
WNL We Never Looked!
WWW Wimpy Wimpy Wimpy
SPODA stuff that ain't spoda be there
--
Henry Troup Wrote the original list which has been greatly altered since then.