My name is Jonmar. I live in Laval, Quebec. I am 19 years old. I have been studying in Prehospital Emergency Care for about a year at Ahuntsic College. A paramedic is a person who is trained to give emergency medical care to people who are injured or ill and to stabilize them before they are taken to the hospital. So, if that job interest you, then this is the perfect glossary for you. This glossary will help you by teaching you some of the terms that paramedics use. I took my definitions from the manual ''Actively Engaged Online'' by Nicholas Walker and from online dictionaries.
ache
noun
A continuous or prolonged dull pain in a part of one's body.
Example: Chest pain was reported as a dull ache lasting for about 10mins.
fr: mal
acidosis
noun
An excessively acid condition of the body fluids or tissues.
Example: Neutrophils suddenly migrate into the reperfused tissue causing enzymatic injury There is an increase in capillary permeability therefore limb swelling may cause a compartment syndrome Dead and damaged cells may leak causing acidosis, hyperkalaemia (leading to cardiac arrhythmias) and myoglobinaemia (leading to acute tubular necrosis).
fr: acidose
adrenaline
noun
A hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, especially in conditions of stress, increasing rates of blood circulation, breathing, and carbohydrate metabolism and preparing muscles for exertion.
Example: Buckley (2001) and Odent (1998) argue that if a mother is worried or distracted during the third stage high adrenaline levels will counteract the benefits of natural oxytocin on the uterus.
fr: adrénaline
airway
noun
The passage by which air reaches a person's lungs.
Example: Important differential diagnoses to exclude would include an acute infective exacerbation of COPD, pulmonary oedema (cardiac asthma), URTI, PE, pneumothorax, anaphylactic shock and airway obstruction by a foreign body or tumour.
fr: voie aérienne
alkalosis
noun
An excessively alkaline condition of the body fluids or tissues that may cause weakness or cramps.
Example: Investigations 's blood biochemistry results on following admission () were as follows: 's blood results following admission () were as follows: 's blood gas results () were as follows: 's blood gas results are indicative of a respiratory alkalosis.
fr: alcalose
allergy
noun
A damaging immune response by the body to a substance, especially pollen, fur, a particular food, or dust, to which it has become hypersensitive.
Example: If you or a member of your family suffers from allergies like hay fever or eczema do not eat foods with peanuts as the developing baby may become sensitised to peanut antigens.
fr: allergie
ambulance
noun
A vehicle specially equipped for taking sick or injured people to and from the hospital, especially in emergencies.
Example: In 1992 the Department of Health produced The Patients Charter (DoH, 2002) which, among other rights, highlighted all people's right to receive emergency medical care at any time, through a GP, the ambulance service or an A&E department.
fr: ambulance
anaphylactic shock
noun
An extreme, often life-threatening allergic reaction to an antigen to which the body has become hypersensitive.
Example: Important differential diagnoses to exclude would include an acute infective exacerbation of COPD, pulmonary oedema (cardiac asthma), URTI, PE, pneumothorax, anaphylactic shock and airway obstruction by a foreign body or tumour.
fr: choc anaphylactique
anaphylaxis
noun
An acute allergic reaction to an antigen (e.g. a bee sting) to which the body has become hypersensitive.
Example: Anaphylaxis - There was no report of a direct precipitant to the attack of shortness of breath in the hours preceding the attack e.g. drugs, latex etc.
fr: anaphylaxie
anemia
noun
A condition marked by a deficiency of red blood cells or of hemoglobin in the blood, resulting in pallor and weariness.
Example: The introduction of recombinant EPO can have a major therapeutic benefit to sufferers of conditions such as chronic kidney disease that normally results in an EPO deficiency, which can then lead onto anemia.
anemia may also occur in cancer patients as a consequence of the disease or as an adverse effect from the chemotherapy treatment they receive.
fr: anémie
aneurism
noun
An excessive localized enlargement of an artery caused by a weakening of the artery wall.
Example: The doctor told me my high blood pressure put me at risk of developing an aneurysm in the future.
fr: anévrisme
angioplasty
noun
Surgical repair or unblocking of a blood vessel, especially a coronary artery.
Example: This condition represents an acute medical emergency which may require urgent angioplasty, embolectomy (using a fogarty catheter) or open surgery, and as a result Mr is likely to be placed under a considerable amount of stress.
fr: angioplastie
antibiotic ointment
noun
A type of topical ointment, typically in an oil base, applied to the skin to kill bacteria and prevent infection.
Example: Penicillin was the first true antibiotic to be discovered.
fr: pommade antibiotique
backboard
noun
A tool for moving injured patients.
Example: She pulled her knees to her chest and leaned against the backboard.
fr: panneau
bag-valve masks
noun
A bag, used to resuscitate a patient by supplying air or oxygen directly to the trachea and into the lungs.
Example: Clinical events related to respiratory depression, including an increase in supplemental oxygen, the use of a bag-valve-mask apparatus, airway repositioning, or stimulation to induce breathing, were noted.
fr: masques à valve
blood pressure
noun
The pressure of the blood in the circulatory system, often measured for diagnosis since it is closely related to the force and rate of the heartbeat and the diameter and elasticity of the arterial walls.
Example: Research has shown that breastfed babies, when compared to artificially fed babies, were less likely to suffer from gastrointestinal illness and respiratory, ear and urinary infections and were less likely to suffer from diabetes and higher blood pressure later in life.
fr: pression artérielle
cardiac arrest
noun
A sudden, sometimes temporary, cessation of function of the heart.
Example: On her admission this time, Mrs was in a similar position and at risk of a cardiac arrest and it was a sensitive issue that needed to be discussed with the family.
fr: arrêt cardiaque
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: She could have administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until the ambulance arrived.
fr: réanimation cardiopulmonaire
defibrillator
noun
An apparatus used to control heart fibrillation by application of an electric current to the chest wall or heart.
Example: Defibrillators work by shocking the heart back into a regular rhythm.
fr: défibrillateur
hemorrage
noun
An escape of blood from a ruptured blood vessel, especially when profuse.
Example: Two days later, the composer died of a cerebral hemorrhage.
fr: hémorragie
pulse
noun
A rhythmical throbbing of the arteries as blood is propelled through them, typically as felt in the wrists or neck.
Example: His pulse rate was 70, and his cholesterol was 182.
fr: impulsion
resuscitation
noun
The action or process of reviving someone from unconsciousness or apparent death.
Example: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation can buy time, but cannot restart a heart.
fr: réanimation
shock
noun
An acute medical condition associated with a fall in blood pressure, caused by such events as loss of blood, severe burns, bacterial infection, allergic reaction, or sudden emotional stress, and marked by cold, pallid skin, irregular breathing, rapid pulse, and dilated pupils.
Example: She would have gone into rapid shock with this massive injury.
fr: choc
stretcher
noun
A framework of two poles with a long piece of canvas slung between them, used for carrying sick, injured, or dead people.
Example: Thomas flattened him and Jefferson left the field on a stretcher.
fr: tendeur
unconscience
adjective
Not conscious.
Example: It might have been better if he had been knocked unconscious.
fr: inconscient
vital signs
noun
Clinical measurements, specifically pulse rate, temperature, respiration rate, and blood pressure, that indicate the state of a patient's essential body functions.
Example: The nurses took his vital signs and moments later the neurologist arrived.
