Kuwait MOH Paramedic key terms

A rigid curved device inserted through the mouth to hold the tongue away from the posterior pharynx in an unresponsive patient who has no gag reflex. It is measured from the corner of the mouth to the earlobe or angle of the jaw.

A soft rubber or plastic tube passed through the nostril into the nasopharynx to maintain an open airway, usable in patients with a gag reflex. It is measured from the nostril tip to the earlobe and is avoided with suspected basal skull fracture.

A self-inflating resuscitation bag with a one-way valve and mask used to deliver positive-pressure breaths. Effective use requires a two-person technique with a tight seal, an appropriately sized mask, and squeeze volumes just sufficient to produce visible chest rise.

An airway adjunct such as a laryngeal mask or i-gel that sits above the glottis and provides ventilation without direct visualization of the vocal cords. It is placed in patients who are unresponsive and apneic when endotracheal intubation is unavailable or unsuccessful.

Placement of a cuffed tube directly into the trachea to secure a definitive airway, protect against aspiration, and allow controlled ventilation. Correct placement is confirmed by continuous waveform capnography plus clinical signs such as chest rise and bilateral breath sounds.

Continuous measurement and waveform display of exhaled carbon dioxide. It confirms and monitors tube placement, reflects pulmonary perfusion and ventilation quality, and can indicate return of spontaneous circulation during resuscitation.

A clinical situation in which a trained provider has trouble achieving or maintaining ventilation, laryngoscopy, intubation, or rescue oxygenation. Warning signs include obesity, short neck, facial trauma, blood or vomit, limited mouth opening, and reduced cervical mobility.

Noninvasive estimation of arterial oxygen saturation using light absorption through a fingertip or earlobe probe. Readings are unreliable with poor perfusion, motion, nail polish, carbon monoxide exposure, or severe anemia, so they must be interpreted with the clinical picture.

Delivery interfaces such as nasal cannula, simple face mask, nonrebreather mask, and venturi mask that supply a range of inspired oxygen fractions. Device choice depends on the target saturation, patient tolerance, and the need for precise or high-concentration oxygen.

A rapid, prioritized assessment of Airway, Breathing, Circulation, Disability, and Exposure with immediate correction of life threats before moving to the next step. It is repeated whenever the patient's condition changes.

A systematic head-to-toe examination with history gathering, performed after the primary survey and initial stabilization. It identifies injuries or medical findings not immediately life-threatening, including hidden trauma and relevant past medical history.

A structured patient history covering Signs and symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past medical history, Last oral intake, and Events leading to the present illness or injury. It guides differential diagnosis and treatment decisions in the field.

A symptom assessment mnemonic: Onset, Provocation and palliation, Quality, Region and radiation, Severity, and Time course. It is used mainly for pain and is paired with the SAMPLE history to build a clear clinical picture.

A scored assessment of eye opening, verbal response, and motor response, ranging from 3 to 15. It quantifies level of consciousness, guides airway decisions, and helps track deterioration or improvement over time.

Restoration of a detectable pulse and effective circulation after cardiac arrest, often signaled by a sudden rise in end-tidal carbon dioxide and improvement in rhythm on the monitor. Post-ROSC care focuses on oxygenation, blood pressure, and controlled transport.

Chest compressions delivered at a depth of about 5 to 6 cm in adults, at 100 to 120 per minute, with full recoil, minimal interruptions, and avoidance of excessive ventilation. It is the strongest determinant of survival in cardiac arrest.

Delivery of an unsynchronized electrical shock to terminate a shockable rhythm such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia. It is most effective when performed early with minimal interruption of chest compressions.

A portable device that analyzes the cardiac rhythm and advises or delivers a shock for shockable rhythms. It prompts the operator through pad placement, safe clearing, and shock delivery, and is usable by trained bystanders and responders.

A spectrum of conditions caused by reduced coronary blood flow, including unstable angina and myocardial infarction. Field care emphasizes oxygen only if hypoxemic, aspirin, nitroglycerin when appropriate, pain control, and rapid transport to a facility capable of reperfusion.

A multi-view recording of the heart's electrical activity used to identify ischemia, injury, infarction, and arrhythmias. Prehospital acquisition allows early notification and shortened time to reperfusion for ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

A severe, prolonged asthma attack that does not respond to initial bronchodilator therapy and threatens respiratory failure. Signs include silent chest, exhaustion, altered consciousness, and rising carbon dioxide, requiring aggressive treatment and rapid transport.

A severe, rapidly progressing systemic allergic reaction involving airway swelling, bronchospasm, and hypotension. Intramuscular epinephrine is the first-line treatment, followed by airway support, fluids, and adjunct medications.

Injection of a sympathomimetic drug used as first-line therapy for anaphylaxis, typically intramuscularly into the lateral thigh at a weight-appropriate dose. It reverses bronchospasm and vasodilation and should not be delayed for antihistamines.

Rapid identification of focal neurological deficits suggesting interrupted cerebral blood flow, using tools such as FAST and recording the time of symptom onset. Early recognition supports transport to a stroke-capable center and possible thrombolysis.

Abnormally low blood glucose producing sweating, tremor, confusion, seizures, or coma. Conscious patients receive oral glucose; those unable to protect the airway or with severe symptoms require intravenous dextrose or intramuscular glucagon.

Noninvasive delivery of pressurized air-oxygen mixture that keeps alveoli open and reduces the work of breathing. It is used in pulmonary edema, asthma, and other conditions with hypoxia, and is avoided in vomiting, altered consciousness, or hypotension.

Stopping or limiting blood loss using direct pressure, wound packing, tourniquets, or hemostatic dressings. Uncontrolled bleeding is a leading preventable cause of trauma death and is addressed during the circulation step of the primary survey.

Air trapped in the pleural space that progressively compresses the lung and shifts mediastinal structures, causing severe dyspnea, hypotension, and absent breath sounds on the affected side. It requires urgent needle decompression followed by chest tube placement.

The process of sorting patients by urgency so that limited resources are directed to those most likely to benefit. It uses physiological, anatomical, or mechanism criteria and must be reassessed as conditions change.

An event in which the number or severity of casualties exceeds available resources, requiring incident command, triage, and staged treatment and transport. Responder safety and scene control precede patient care.

A standardized management framework that organizes personnel, resources, and communications at an emergency scene under a single command structure. It defines roles such as operations, planning, logistics, and finance to keep response coordinated and scalable.

Barrier equipment such as gloves, gowns, masks, eye protection, and respiratory protection used to prevent contact with blood, body fluids, and airborne hazards. Selection is based on the anticipated exposure risk and the nature of the incident.

Infection-control practices applied to every patient regardless of diagnosis, including hand hygiene, gloves, and barriers when contact with blood or body fluids is likely. They are the foundation of preventing transmission in prehospital care.

Accidental puncture of the skin by a contaminated needle or sharp, creating risk of bloodborne infection. Immediate steps include washing the site, reporting the exposure, and post-exposure evaluation and prophylaxis per protocol.

Recognition, isolation, and management of incidents involving dangerous substances, using zones and protective levels appropriate to the hazard. Responders stay upwind and uphill, avoid unprotected entry, and request specialized resources early.

Excessive bleeding after delivery, commonly from uterine atony, which can rapidly cause shock. Field management includes fundal massage, uterotonic medication per protocol, fluid resuscitation, warmth, and urgent transport.

A rapid visual and auditory assessment of a child's appearance, work of breathing, and circulation to skin. It estimates severity without touching the child and guides the order of the subsequent assessment.

The paths by which drugs enter the body, including oral, sublingual, inhaled, intramuscular, intravenous, intraosseous, and intranasal. Route selection depends on the patient's condition, the drug's properties, and the required speed of onset.

Placement of a needle into the marrow cavity of a long bone to deliver fluids and medications when intravenous access is delayed or impossible. It is used in emergencies such as cardiac arrest, shock, and severe dehydration.

The written or electronic patient care report recording assessment findings, interventions, times, responses, and refusals. It supports continuity of care, quality review, and legal defense, so entries must be objective, accurate, and timely.

A patient's decision to decline care or transport after receiving and understanding the risks, alternatives, and consequences. The provider must document capacity, the explanation given, and any advice to seek care.