Hi, my name is Esther, and I am a third-year student in Pre-hospital Emergency Care at Ahuntsic College. During the last three years, I have studied human biology, anatomy, physiopathology, medical care, trauma care, pharmacology, psychology, stress management, etc. I expect to finish my program at the end of May 2025. Hopefully, I will be able to pass my national exam right after and start working as a paramedic on the south-shore of Montreal in the summer. My main challenges now are to pass my internship and my last synthesis course. To understand more about my field of studies, here is a glossary of some specific terms related to it.
abdominal aortic aneurysm
noun
An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) occurs when an area of the aorta in the abdomen becomes very large or balloons out.
Example: An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a swelling (aneurysm) of the aorta – the main blood vessel that leads away from the heart, down through the abdomen to the rest of the body.
en: anévrisme de l'aorte abdominale
acidosis
noun
Acidosis is caused by an overproduction of acid that builds up in the blood or an excessive loss of bicarbonate from the blood (metabolic acidosis) or by a buildup of carbon dioxide in the blood that results from poor lung function or depressed breathing (respiratory acidosis).
Example: The pH level of 7.130 indicates an ACIDOSIS.
en: acidose
anaphylaxis
noun
Anaphylaxis is a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction. It can happen seconds or minutes after you've been exposed to something you're allergic to.
Example: The most severe food allergy reaction is called anaphylaxis and is an emergency situation requiring immediate attention and treatment with epinephrine.
en: anaphylaxie
blood glucose
noun
Blood glucose level is the amount of glucose present in the blood. Blood glucose is a tightly regulated biochemical parameter in blood. It is important for metabolic homeostasis. Normal levels range between 3.6 and 5.8 mM (mmol/l).
Example: Blood glucose levels were measured at 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min after insulin administration.
en: glycémie
cardiopulmonary resuscitation
noun
A medical procedure involving repeated compression of a patient's chest, performed in an attempt to restore the blood circulation and breathing of a person who has suffered cardiac arrest.
Example: Paramedics spent seven minutes trying to resuscitate him on the pitch with cardiopulmonary resuscitation and a defibrillator.
en: réanimation cardio-pulmonaire
COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
acronym
“Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease” (COPD) is a term for lung and airway diseases that restrict your breathing. People with COPD have airway inflammation and scarring, damage to the air sacs in their lungs or both. Emphysema and chronic bronchitis are both forms of COPD.
Example: Going from a high temperature outside to a cold temperature inside can exacerbate respiratory symptoms for people with asthma and COPD.
Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is a type of positive airway pressure, where the air flow is introduced into the airways to maintain a continuous pressure to constantly stent the airways open, in people who are breathing spontaneously. Positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) is the pressure in the alveoli above atmospheric pressure at the end of expiration. CPAP is a way of delivering PEEP but also maintains the set pressure throughout the respiratory cycle, during both inspiration and expiration.
Example: Most covid patients are now first given noninvasive respiratory support instead, such as high-flow nasal oxygen or continuous positive airway pressure, known as CPAP.
en: CPAP (pression positive continue des voies respiratoires)
defibrillation
noun
Defibrillation is a treatment for life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, specifically ventricular fibrillation (V-Fib) and non-perfusing ventricular tachycardia (V-Tach).
Example: This individual had ventricular fibrillation while jogging and her resuscitation required defibrillation.
en: défibrillation
electrocardiogram (EKG)
noun
An electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG) uses temporary electrodes on your chest and limbs to monitor, track and document your heart's electrical activity.
Example: Trump took the drug for two weeks along with zinc and vitamin D and was monitored by his doctors for issues through the use of an electrocardiogram, the report read.
en: électrocardiogramme (ECG)
epinephrine
noun
Epinephrine is the drug form of a hormone (adrenaline) that the body produces on its own. It helps to reverse symptoms of an allergic reaction by opening the airways, improving blood pressure and accelerating heart rate.
Example: People who have anaphylaxis need to carry an injection around with them of a drug called adrenaline or epinephrine.
en: épinéphrine
first responders
noun
A person such as a member of the police or fire department in a position to arrive first at an emergency, who has been trained to give basic medical treatment, until higher-level emergency responders arrive, such as paramedics.
Example: Sources say first responders rushed to his home on a call for a cardiac arrest.
en: premiers répondants
Glasgow Coma Scale
noun
The Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) estimates impaired consciousness and coma severity based on response to defined stimuli including Eye, Verbal, and Motor criteria.
Example: Level of confusion, disorientation and consciousness should be regularly assessed with Glasgow Coma Scale.
en: Échelle de coma Glasgow
i-gel
proper noun
i-gel™ is a unique, single use, supraglottic airway management device.
Example: I-gel is emerging as a popular choice for maintaining and securing the airway during prehospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
en: i-gel
laryngoscope
noun
A laryngoscope is a device used in medical procedures to visualize the trachea by inserting a blade with a small light into the patient's mouth.
Example: A laryngoscope was inserted into the pharynx to elevate the larynx and to expose the esophageal entrance.
en: laryngoscope
Magill forceps
proper noun
Long angled forceps for use with a laryngoscope in removing foreign bodies from the mouth and throat of an unconscious patient.
Example: The patients were sedated and foreign bodies were extracted using Magill forceps, without intubation.
en: Pince de Magill
nitroglycerin
noun
Nitroglycerin is used for the treatment of angina, acute myocardial infarction, severe hypertension, and acute coronary artery spasms.
Example: Those with cardiac issues should pack nitroglycerin tablets or spray, along with aspirin.
en: nitroglycérine
paramedic
noun
A paramedic is a healthcare professional trained in the medical model, whose main role has historically been to respond to emergency calls for medical help outside of a hospital. Paramedics work as part of the emergency medical services (EMS), most often in ambulances. They also have roles in emergency medicine, primary care, transfer medicine and remote/offshore medicine.
Example: Witnesses said paramedics worked on her for 15 minutes to try to revive her.
en: paramédic
seizure
noun
A seizure is a burst of uncontrolled electrical activity between brain cells (also called neurons or nerve cells) that causes temporary abnormalities in muscle tone or movements (stiffness, twitching or limpness), behaviors, sensations or states of awareness.
Example: They decided to leave him until the ambulance arrived in case he was having an epileptic seizure.
en: convulsion
triage
noun
The sorting of and allocation of treatment to patients and especially battle and disaster victims according to a system of priorities designed to maximize the number of survivors.
Example: The accident, involving many casualties, required to do on-scene triage to decide the priority of treatment for the patients.
en: triage
ventricular fibrillation (V-Fib)
noun
Ventricular fibrillation is a type of irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia). During ventricular fibrillation, the lower heart chambers contract in a very rapid and uncoordinated manner. As a result, the heart doesn't pump blood to the rest of the body. It is considered the most serious abnormal heart rhythm. VF is extremely dangerous and can lead to sudden cardiac death.
Example: I suspect he probably had ventricular fibrillation - that is a cardiac arrest where he loses output and immediately collapses.
