Memo

This was sent to me via e-mail if anyone knows the origen of this please let me know so I can properly credit the author -thanks The lunatick

Interdepartment memo

Office of the Fire Chief

To: All Riding Members

From: Chief of Operations

Subject: Proper Narrative Descriptions

It has come to our attention from several emergency rooms that many EMS
narratives have taken a decidedly creative direction lately. Effective
immediately, all members are to refrain from using slang and abbreviations
to describe patients, such as the following.

1) Cardiac patients should not be referred to with MUH (messed up
heart), PBS (pretty bad shape), PCL (pre-code looking) or HIBGIA (had
it before, got it again).

2) Stroke patients are NOT "Charlie Carrots." Nor are rescuers to use
CCFCCP (Coo Coo for Cocoa Puffs) to describe their mental state.

3) Trauma patients are not CATS (cut all to sh*t), FDGB (fall down, go
boom), TBC (total body crunch) or "hamburger helper." Similarly,
descriptions of a car crash do not have to include phrases like "negative
vehicle to vehicle interface" or "terminal deceleration syndrome."

4) HAZMAT teams are highly trained professionals, not "glow worms."

5) Persons with altered mental states as a result of drug use are not
considered "pharmaceutically gifted."

6) Gunshot wounds to the head are not "trans-occipital implants."

7) The homeless are not "urban outdoorsmen", nor is endotracheal
intubation referred to as a "PVC Challenge".

8) And finally, do not refer to recently deceased persons as being
"paws up," ART (assuming room temperature), CC (Cancel Christmas), CTD
(circling the drain), or NLPR (no long playing records).

I know you will all join me in respecting the cultural diversity of our
patients to include their medical orientations in creating proper,
narratives and log entries.

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Last Revised:05/25/05 13:33