QCHP Paramedic key terms

An airway that is open and unobstructed, allowing air to move freely between the lungs and the outside environment. Confirming patency is the first priority in any resuscitation.

A curved plastic device inserted through the mouth to hold the tongue away from the posterior pharynx in an unresponsive patient who has no gag reflex. It does not protect against aspiration.

A device placed above the glottis, such as a laryngeal mask, that channels ventilation into the trachea without entering it. Used as a rescue or primary airway when intubation is unavailable or unsuccessful.

Placement of a cuffed tube directly into the trachea to secure a definitive airway, permit positive-pressure ventilation, and protect the lungs from aspiration. Confirmation of tube position is mandatory immediately after placement.

Continuous measurement and display of exhaled carbon dioxide concentration over time. A sustained waveform confirms tube placement in the trachea and reflects both ventilation and cardiac output.

A noninvasive method of estimating arterial oxygen saturation by measuring light absorption through perfused tissue. Readings are unreliable in poor perfusion, motion, and abnormal hemoglobin states.

Manual delivery of breaths using a self-inflating bag and mask with a one-way valve. Effective use requires a two-person technique with a tight seal and airway adjuncts to prevent gastric insufflation.

Abnormally low oxygen content in arterial blood, recognized by low pulse oximetry readings and clinical signs such as confusion, cyanosis, and tachypnea. It is treated by correcting the airway, ventilation, and inspired oxygen.

An oxygen delivery device with a reservoir bag and one-way valves that can provide a high fraction of inspired oxygen to a spontaneously breathing patient. It is preferred for severe hypoxemia when ventilation is adequate.

A low-flow oxygen device delivering oxygen through prongs into the nostrils, suitable for mild hypoxemia in patients with adequate spontaneous breathing. Flow rates are limited because higher flows cause discomfort and drying of mucosa.

A rapid structured assessment of airway, breathing, circulation, disability, and exposure performed on every patient to identify and correct immediately life-threatening problems before moving to detailed history.

A systematic head-to-toe examination and history taken after the primary survey and initial stabilization, intended to detect injuries or conditions not yet identified. It includes vital signs, focused history, and reassessment.

A mnemonic for patient history covering signs and symptoms, allergies, medications, past medical history, last oral intake, and events leading to the emergency. It guides field diagnosis and treatment choices.

A structured tool for characterizing a chief complaint: onset, provocation and palliation, quality, region and radiation, severity, and timing. It improves consistency when evaluating pain and other symptoms.

The judgment to limit on-scene care and transport a critically ill or injured patient rapidly, providing only interventions that cannot wait. It reflects the principle that definitive care time matters more than scene time.

The concept that outcomes improve when definitive surgical or medical care is delivered soon after major trauma or critical illness. It drives triage, transport destination choice, and scene-time discipline.

A portable device that analyzes a cardiac rhythm and advises or delivers a shock for shockable rhythms. Early use, combined with high-quality CPR, is central to survival from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

A disorganized, chaotic electrical rhythm of the ventricles that produces no effective pulse. It is a shockable rhythm and requires immediate defibrillation and continuous chest compressions.

Organized electrical activity on the monitor without a palpable pulse. It is not shockable; management focuses on high-quality CPR and correcting reversible causes such as hypovolemia, hypoxia, and tension pneumothorax.

Chest compressions delivered at the recommended rate and depth with full recoil, minimal interruptions, and appropriate ventilation. These elements maximize coronary and cerebral perfusion during cardiac arrest.

A spectrum of conditions caused by reduced blood flow in coronary arteries, including unstable angina and myocardial infarction. It presents with chest discomfort, diaphoresis, and sometimes atypical symptoms, and requires rapid transport.

A recording of cardiac electrical activity from twelve viewpoints used to identify ischemia, injury, infarction, and arrhythmias. Findings guide destination choice and prehospital activation of reperfusion care.

An upward shift of the ST segment on an ECG that suggests acute transmural myocardial injury when found in anatomically consistent leads. It triggers urgent reperfusion pathways and prehospital notification.

Circulatory failure caused by loss of intravascular volume, producing inadequate tissue perfusion with tachycardia, weak pulses, and altered mentation. Treatment prioritizes hemorrhage control and volume replacement.

Accumulation of air in the pleural space under pressure that collapses the lung and impairs venous return to the heart. It causes severe dyspnea, hypotension, and distended neck veins and requires urgent decompression.

Fracture of several adjacent ribs in two or more places, creating a segment that moves opposite to the rest of the chest wall during breathing. It often signals underlying pulmonary contusion and respiratory failure.

A constricting device applied proximal to a limb wound to stop life-threatening arterial bleeding when direct pressure fails. The application time should be recorded and communicated to receiving staff.

Techniques that limit movement of the spine during extrication and transport in patients with suspected spinal injury. The approach is applied selectively based on mechanism, findings, and reliability of examination.

A severe, rapidly progressing systemic allergic reaction involving airway swelling, bronchospasm, and circulatory collapse. First-line treatment is intramuscular epinephrine given without delay.

Any deviation from a patient's normal level of awareness or cognition, ranging from confusion to unresponsiveness. It is evaluated with a structured scale and prompts a search for reversible causes such as hypoglycemia and hypoxia.

A scored assessment of eye opening, verbal response, and motor response used to quantify level of consciousness. Serial scores help detect deterioration and guide transport and destination decisions.

A catecholamine that stimulates alpha and beta adrenergic receptors, causing vasoconstriction, bronchodilation, and increased cardiac output. It is used in anaphylaxis, severe asthma, and cardiac arrest, with rhythm- and route-specific dosing.

An antiplatelet medication that inhibits platelet aggregation and is given orally to patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome unless contraindicated. Bleeding risk and true allergy are key considerations before administration.

Injection of medication into a muscle belly, producing relatively rapid absorption through local blood flow. It is preferred for epinephrine in anaphylaxis and for some vaccines and sedatives.

Placement of a needle into the marrow cavity of a long bone to deliver fluids and medications when intravenous access is difficult or delayed. It provides a rapid route to the central circulation in emergencies.

A safety checklist confirming the right patient, drug, dose, route, and time before giving any medication. Following it reduces preventable errors and should be paired with documentation and reassessment.

A pregnancy complication marked by new hypertension and signs of organ dysfunction, such as protein in the urine or visual disturbance, usually after twenty weeks. It can progress to seizures and requires urgent obstetric care.

The occurrence of seizures in a patient with preeclampsia, a life-threatening obstetric emergency. Management focuses on airway support, seizure control, blood pressure considerations, and rapid transport to obstetric care.

A structured approach to a newborn who is not breathing or has poor tone, starting with warming, drying, stimulation, and airway positioning, followed by assisted ventilation if needed. Compressions begin only if bradycardia persists despite effective ventilation.

The process of sorting patients by urgency so that limited resources are directed to those most in need. It uses standardized categories and is reassessed as conditions and resources change.

An event in which the number or severity of casualties exceeds available resources, requiring incident command, triage, and prioritization of transport. Communication and span of control are critical to effective response.

The driving practices and legal considerations for ambulance response, including use of warning devices, due regard for public safety, and scene parking. Emergency privileges do not remove the duty to drive safely.

A patient's voluntary agreement to treatment after receiving an explanation of the proposed care, its risks, and alternatives, given by a patient with decision-making capacity. It may be implied in emergencies or given by a legal surrogate.

A decision by a patient with capacity to decline assessment or treatment after being informed of the risks. Documentation, assessment of capacity, and a signed refusal are essential steps.

The ethical and legal duty to protect health information from unauthorized disclosure, sharing it only with those involved in care or as required by law. It applies to verbal, written, and electronic communication.