This list is in the Public Domain
The list is maintained by Henry Troup and corrections and additions are solicited. The list is primarily complied from the newsgroup alt.emergency-services.moderated and previously misc.emerg-services, and it is intended as an aid to reading those newsgroups.
1SG First Sargent ? ( I was not a MP but I have been a 1SG, ...) A&E Accident and Emergency A&E Arts and Entertainment (US TV channel) A&Ox4 Alert & Oriented to (person/place/time-date/condition-circumstance) A/O Alert and Oriented A/O Ambulance Officer AAA Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm AAA American Ambulance Association AAMS Association of Air Medical Services (US) AAOS American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons AAOx3 Awake, Alert, Oriented x 3 [person/place/time] AAP American Academy of Pediatrics AAT Australian Antarctic Teritory AB ABortion AB Alberta (province) (Canada) ABA American Burn Association ABEM American Board of Emergency Medicine ABGs Arterial Blood Gases ABLS Advanced Burn Life Support ABP Always ? Precautions (possibly ? Bloodborne Pathogens) AC AnteCubital vein or fossa (IV) AC Anterior Cephalic vein ACD Active Compression-Decompression (CPR) ACE Angiotensin Converting Enzyme ACEP American College of Emergency Physicians ACLS Advanced Cardiac Life Support ACO Alert Conscious Oriented? ACOEP American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians ACPM American College of Prehospital Medicine. ACRONYM "A Contrived Reduction Of Nouns, Yielding Mnemonics" ACS-COT American College of Surgeons - Committee on Trauma ACT Australian Capital Territory ACTES Australian Capital Territory Emergency Service (Australia) ADA Americans with Disabilities Act ADL Activities of Daily Living ADN ? one year of an ADN program (core curriculum only) ADSU Automatic Distress Signal Unit AEA Ambulance Emergency Assistant (South Africa, after 1991) AED Automated External Defibrillator, reference AHA Advanced Cardiac AELS Advanced Endocrinological Life Support AEMT Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (NY) AEMT-CC Advanced Emergency Medical Technician Cardiac/Critical ? Care (NY) AEMT-I Advanced Emergency Medical Technician Intermediate (NY) AEMT-P Advanced Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic (NY) AEP ? AFA Advanced First Aid AFA Automatic Fire Alarm (or Automatic False Alarm) AFEM the Alliance for Fire and Emergency Management AFRCC Airforce Rescue Coordination Center AFRS Aviation Fire and Rescue Service ( com ) AHA American Heart Association AICD Automatic Implantable Cardioverter/Defibrillator AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome AIQ Available In Quarters AIS Accident Investigation Section (VICPOL) (Australia) AIS Associazione Italiana Soccorritori (Italian Rescuers Association) ALI Automatic Location Identification/Address Location Identification (911) ALS Advanced Life Support ALSOB Alcohol Like Substance On Breath AMA Against Medical Advice AMA Ambulance Medical Assistant (South Africa, before 1991, = EMT-I) AMA American Medical Association Ambo Ambulance Officer (Australia) AMI Acute Myocardial Infarction AMPA Air Medical Physician Association (US) AMR American Medical Response (private but large operator of EMS) AMTRAK ? US railway company/agency. ANI ? (also used to denote radio unit number identifiers.) ANI Automatic Number Identification (telephony/911) ANLS Advanced Neurological Life Support ANP Advanced Nurse Practictioner ANPAS Associazione Nazionale Pubbliche Assistenze (National Ambulance Companies Association) (Italy) AO Ambulance Officer AO Apparatus Operator AOA American Osteopathic Association AOB Alcohol On Breath AOPPT Alert Oriented ? AOR Available On Radio AOS Arrived On Scene APCO Associated Public-safety Communications Officers APE Acute Pulmonary Edema APE Acute Pulmonary Embolism APE Apparatus, Personnel, and Equipment APEL Accreditation of Prior Experiential Learning APL Accreditation of Prior Learning APO Acute Pulmonary Oedema APPA Alberta Prehospital Professions Association ARC American Red Cross ARC Australian Resuscitation Council ARCHIE Automated Resouce for Chemical Hazard Incident Evaluation ARCS Australian Red Cross Society ARDA American Rescue Dog Association ARDS Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome ARES Amateur Radio Emergency Service ARFD Airport Rescue Fire Depts. ARFF Airport Rescue Fire Fighters/Firefighting AS American Samoa (US) as Auricle Sinistrus (Left Ear) AS AGUASCALIENTES (Mexico) ASE ? like ASE for auto mechanic's. ASHD Arteriosclerotic Heart Disease ASRT Alarm System Response Team ASTM American Society for Testing & Materials ASV Ambulance Service Victoria (Australia) ATC Air Traffic Control ATF Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (US Government) ATLS Advanced Trauma Life Support ATS American Trauma Society au Right Ear AV Atrio-Ventricular (cardiac) AVL Automatic Vehicle Locator B/P Blood Pressure BA Batchelor of Arts BA Breathing Apparatus BAC Basic Ambulance Course (South Africa, level 4 = EMT-A) BAC Blood Alcohol Content BAEMT British Association of EMTs (formerly Paramedic UK) BASIC Bleeding, Airway, Shock, Immoblization after classification BATF Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (US Government) BBP Blood-Borne Pathogen BBS Bulletin Board System BC British Columbia (province) (Canada) BC BAJA CALIFORNIA (Mexico) BCAS British Columbia Ambulance Service BCLS Basic Cardiac Life Support BD BenzoDiazepine BERT Bicycle Emergency Response Team BEST Bureau of Emergency Services Telecommunications (Victoria Australia) BFB Bush Fire Brigade (Australia) BFBB Bush Fire Brigade Board (Western Australia) BFRL Building and Fire Research Laboratory BGL Blood Glucose Level BID Twice Daily (as in meds) BiPAP BILEVEL or BIPHASIC positive airway pressure ... "BiPAP" is a trade name BIQ Back in Quarters BLEVE Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion BLM Bureau of Land Management (US) BLS Basic Life Support BLS Bureau of Labor Standards (Maine and others) BMed Sc Batchelor of Medical Science BMS Batchelor of Medical Science BN Batchelor of Nursing BNAS Bell Neutral Answer Service (911 Ontario) BNTI Blind NasoTracheal Intubation BP Blood Pressure BRT Big Red Trucks BS Bachelor of Science (has other meanings...) BS BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR (Mexico) BSc Batchelor of Science BSI Basic Skills Instructor (obsolete) BSI Bodily Substance Isolation BSL Blood Sugar Level BSN Bachelor of Science in Nursing BTDT "Been There, Done That" BTLS Basic Trauma Life Support BTW By The Way (INTERNET) Bushie Member of Bush Fire Brigade (Australia) BVM Bag Valve Mask (Ambu Bag (tm)) BZD BenZoDiazepine C/O Complains Of C/P Chest Pain CA California (US state) CA Canada CA Cancer CAAMS Commission on the Acreditation of Air Medical Services (US) CAAS Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (US) CABA Compressed Air Breathing Apparatus CABG Coronary Arterial Bypass Graft CAD Computer Aided Dispatch CAD Coronary Artery Disease CAEMS California Emergency Medical Services Mail List (Internet) CAFS Compressed Air Foam System CAMEO Computer Assisted Management of Emergency Operations CAOx4 Conscious, Alert, and Oriented x4 CAP Civil Air Patrol CAS Chemical Abstracts - usually CAS number (Hazmat) CAS Children's Aid Society (Ontario, Canada) CAT Computer Aided/Axial Tomography ? CB Citizen's Band, 27 MHz radio (US) CBC Complete Blood Count CC Chief Complaint CC CAMPECHE (Mexico) CCA Critical Care Assistant CCB Critical care bypass CCP Casualty Collection Points CCRN Critical Care Registered Nurse CCU Cardiac Care Unit CCU Critical Care Unit CDA Communications Decency Act (US) CDC Centers for Disease Control (US government) CDF California Department of Forestry CEM Certified Emergency Manager CEN Certified Emergency Nurse CERB Central Emergency Reporting Bureau (911) CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation & Liablity Act (US) CET Certified Engineering Technician CEU Continuing Education Units (a metric, not an organization) CEVO Coaching the Emergency Vehicle Operator CFA Country Fire Authority (Australia) CFR Certified First Responder CFR Code of Federal Regulations (US) CFR Crash Fire Rescue (airports) CFS Country Fire Service (South Australia) CH CHIHUAHUA (Mexico) CHF Congestive Heart Failure CI ContraIndications CI Cayman Islands CID Cervical Immobilization Device CIERA Canadian Industrial Emergency Response Association CIH Certified Industrial Hygienist CIS Commonwealth of Independent States (republics of former USSR) CIS Critical Incident Stress CISD Critical Incident Stress Debriefing CISM Critical Incident Stress Management CL COAHUILA (Mexico) CLI Call Line ID (seen from Australia) (telephony) CM COLIMA (Mexico) CMA Canadian Medical Association CME Continuing Medical Education CMTI Community Medical Transport, Inc. CNA Certified Nurse's Aide CNID Calling Number Identification (telephony) CNN Cable Network News (TV) CNS Central Nervous System CO carbon monoxide CO Colorado CO2 carbon dioxide COAD Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease (UK) COBRA Comprehensive Omnibus Budgetary Reconcilation Act (US law) CONTOMS Counter Terrorism and Narcotics Operations Management COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COTS Commercial Off The Shelf CP Chest Pain CPAP Continuous Positive Airway Pressure CPR Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation CPREF California Prehospital Research and Education Foundation CQ ham radio general call CQ Cayman Islands (USPS) CQS Continual Quality Service CRNA Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist CRPA California Rescue Paramedics Assoc CRT Cardiac Rescue Technician CRT Certified Radiology Technician/Technologist CRT Certified Rescue Technician CS CHIAPAS (Mexico) CSAP Canadian Society of Ambulance Personnel CSEPP "?> cities, also CSEPP states have acess to hospital training." CSF Cerebral Spinal Fluid CSPS Canadian Ski Patrol System CT Computerized Tomography CT Connecticut (US state) CTC Critical Trauma Care (Primarily New York State) CTCSS Continuous Tone Coded Squelch System CTD Close To Death CTS Carpal Tunnel Syndrome CVA Cerebro-vascular Accident CVA costovertebral angle. CXR Chest X-Ray CYA Cover Your (Anatomy) D/C DisContinue D5W Dextrose 5% in Water (IV) DAA Denitrogenation Absorption Atelectasis DAN Diver's Alert Network DC DisConnect DC District of Columbia (US) DC Dis Continue DCS Digital Coded Squelch (radio) DE Delaware (US state) DEMC District Emergency Management Committee (Australia) DEMO District Emergency Management Officer (Australia) DES DiEthyl Stilbestrol DES Disaster and Emergency Services DETC ... ACPM is accredited by the DETC. DF DISTRITO FEDERAL (Mexico) DG DURANGO (Mexico) DIC Dead in Car DIC "Dimminishment In Capacity ? ... lungs significant DIC, that " DIC Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation DIDS ? (radio) We had a nifty white receiver in the comm center during the 70's. Dip HE Diploma of higher Education ( at least 2/3rds of an honours degree) Dip PEC Post-grad diploma for Dr in E.med eg.:MBChB.DipPEC DIVCON Divisional Controller (SES) (Australia) DKA Diabetic KetoAcidosis (diabetic coma) DM DextroMethorphan DMAT Disaster Medical Assistance Team DNI Do Not Intubate (similar to DNR) DNR Do Not Resuscitate DOA Dead On Arrival DOB Date Of Birth DOH Department Of Health DOT Department of Transport/Transportation DP Direct Pressure DPC Disaster Preparedness Commission (NYS) DPL Digital Private Line DPL Diagnostic Peritoneal Lavage DPOA Durable Power Of Attorney DPS Department of Public Safety DRI Dive Rescue International DRL Daytime Running Lights DSU Distress Signal Unit DTMF Dual Tone Multi Frequency DUI Driving Under the Influence DWAI Driving While Ability Impaired DWI Driving While Impaired/Intoxicated Dx Diagnosis DXM DeXtromethorphan E000 Enhanced triple 0 (the Australian system for delivering number/address) E911 Enhanced 911 (the system that displays calling number and address) EARS ? (radio) >Barry I remember the EARS units. I almost became an EMA volunteer once. EARV Emergency Ambulance Response Vehicle EATES European Association on Trauma and Emergency Surgery ECA Emergency Care Attendant ECC Emergency Co-ordination Centre (Australia) ECG Electro CardioGram ECIC Emergency Care Information Center (US) ECLIPS [Australian E000 database of customer address for emergency calls] ECRI Emergency Care Research Institute (US) ED Emergency Department EDNA Emergency Department Nurses Association EDP Emotionally Disturbed Person (same as MO) EEG ElectroEncephaloGram EENT Ears,Eyes,Nose And Throat EF Explusion Fraction ? (She was in CHF with an EF of 30%!) (cardiac) EGTA ? Airway EHS Emergency Health Services EHS Extremely Hazardous Substance (hazmat) EJ External Jugular (IV) EKG ElectroCardioGram (old, from German ElectroKardioGram) ELASTIC Education for Latex Allergy / Support Team & Information Coalition ELCB Earth Leakage Circuit Breakers aka GFCI ELT Emergency Locator Transmitter EMA Emergency Management Agency (old Civil Defense) (US) EMA Emergency Management Australia (formerly NDO) (Australia) EMA Emergency Medical Assistant EMCA Emergency Medical Care Attendant (Ontario) EMD ElectroMechanical Dissociation (cardiac)
EMD Emergency Management Division (Michigan, US) EMD Emergency Medical Dispatcher
EMP ElectroMagnetic Pulse EMP Emergency Medical Physician/Practicioner? EMP Emergency Medical Programs/Planning? EMR Emergency Medical Responder EMR Emergency Medical Response (Australia) EMS Emergency Medical Services EMS-C Emergency Medical Services for Children EMSI Emergency Medical Services Instructor EMT Emergency Medical Technician EMT-A Ambulance EMT-AD Automatic Defibrillator EMTALA Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act EMT-B Basic EMT-CC Critical Care EMT-CRT Cardiac Rescue Technician (Maryland) EMT-CT Cardiac Tech EMT-D Defibrillator EMT-FR First Responder EMT-FS Fire service, OBSOLETE EMT-I Intermediate EMT-M MAST (PA) EMT-NA non ambulance OBSOLETE EMT-P Paramedic EMT-S EMT-Specialist (Michigan) EMT-ST Shock Trauma EMT-T EMT-Tactical EMT-W Wilderness EMT ENA Emergency Nursing Association EOA Esophageal Obturator Airway EOC Emergency Operations Centre (Australia) EOH Ethyl Alcohol EPA Environmental Protection Agency (US) (hazmat) EPAP Expiratory Postive Airway Pressure EPI EPInephrine ER Emergency Room ERP Emergency Room Physician ? ERS Emergency Response System ERT Emergency Response Team ESD Emergency Services Department (another term for ER) ESDA Emergency Services & Disaster Agency (previous name for EMA) ESN Emergency Service Number (911) ESOP Enhanced (or Expanded) Scope Of Practice ESU Emergency Service Unit ET EndoTracheal (tube) ETA Estimated Time of Arrival ETC Endo-trachael Combitube ETI EndoTracheal Intubation ? ETOH Ethanol (Ethyl Alcohol) ETT EndoTracheal Tube EVOC Emergency Vehicle Operation and Control EVS Emergency Vehicle Status (Australia) EVT Emergency Vehicle Tech EW Emergency Ward F&D Fixed and Dilated (pupils) FAA Federal Aviation Administration (US) FACOG Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology FALN Fuerza Armada para Liberacion Nacional (Puerto Rican Liberation Army) FAO Fire Apparatus Operator FAQ Frequently Asked/Answered Questions (list) (INTERNET) FART Fire Alarm Response Team FAS First Aid Squad FB Foreign Body FD Fire Department FDA Food And Drug Adminstration (US) FDIC Fire Department Instructors Conference FDSOA Fire Department Safety Officer's Association FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency (US) FF Firefighter FFAO FireFighter/Apparatus Operator FFAO FireFighters Association of Ontario? FHR Fetal Heart Rate FHT Fetal Heart Tones FHT Fetal Heart Tones FiO2 fraction of inspired oxygen FIRESCOPE FIrefighting REsources of Southern California Organized for Potential Emergencies FL Florida (US state) FLIR ? FLSA Fair Labor Standards Act (Chapter 7, 29 U.S.C.) (US law) FM Fire Marshall FM Frequency Modulated (radio) FM Federated States of Micronesia FMJ Full Metal Jacket (firearms) FOTS Food on the Stove FOTW Food on the Wok FPE Fire Protection Engineer FR Fire Resistive FR First Response/First Responder FRS Family Radio Service FS Fire Service FSDO Flight Service District Office FT FullTime Fx Fracture GBL Gamma-ButyroLactone GCS Glasgow Coma Scale GDM Gestational Diabetes Melitus GFCI Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter aka RCD or ELCB GFI Ground Fault Interupter OBSOLETE, GFCI preferred GHB Gamma HydroxyButyrate GI Gastro-Intestinal GIS Geographic Information System GM General Motors GMRS General Mobile Radio System GOA Gone On Arrival GOMER Get Out of My ER gpm Gallons Per Minute GPS Global Positioning System GR GUERRERO (Mexico) GRS General Radio Service, 27 MHz radio (Canada) GS Good Samaritan (law) GS Government Service ? GSAR Ground Search And Rescue GSW GunShot Wound GT GUANAJUATO (Mexico) GU Genito-Urinary GU Guam (US) GVW Gross Vehicle Weight H2S hydrogen sulfide HA Hawaii (US state) HAI Helicopter Association International (US) HAPE High Altitude Pulmonary Edema the symtoms: HASE Health and Safety Education (Australian Red Cross) HASHD Hypertensive ArterioSclerotic Heart Disease HCFA Health Care Financing Administration (US Medicare) HCW Health Care Workers HEAR ? (radio) HEAR base station that was locked in transmit HEENT Head Eyes Ears Nose and Throat HEPA High Efficiency Particulate Air (filter/mask) HG HIDALGO (Mexico) HIV Human Immuno-deficiency Virus HMO Health Maintenance Organization HPI History of Present Illness/History of Presenting Injury HR Heart Rate HTN Hypertension HTN Hypo/Hyper Tension HTR Heavy Tactical Rescue HVAC Harrison Volunteer Ambulance Corps (publish an email newsletter) HVAC Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning HVAC High Voltage Alternating Current Hx History HZ Hazard Zone I/C Instructor/Coordinator I:E inspiratory to expiratory ratio IABP Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump IAC-CPR ? Cardio-Pulmonary Resusitation IADRS International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists IAEP ? a union IAFC International Association of Fire Chiefs IAFF International Association of Fire Fighters IC Instructor Coordinator IC Incident Commander ICH Intra-Cranical Hemorrage (?) (... ICH that makes some people ICO Intermediate Care Officer ICP IntraCranial Pressure ICS Incident Command System ICU Intensive Care Unit ID Idaho (US state) ID Identify/Indentification IDD Insulin Dependent Diabetic IDDM Insulin Dependent Diabetes Melittus IFSTA International Fire Service Training Association (US) IHS Indian Health Service (US) IL Illinois (US state) ILOD In the Line Of Duty IM Intramuscular (injection) IMS Incident Management System IN Indiana (US state) IPAP INSPIRATORY positive airway pressure IPPB Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing IPPV Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation IRB Independent Research Board IRV Inspiratory reserve volume ISO International Organization for Standarization (not an acronym) IT Instructor Trainer (one who trains instructors) ITU Intensive Therapy Unit (?) IUD IntraUterine Device IV IntraVenous IVDA IV Drug Abuse/Abuser IVP IntraVenous Pyelogram IVPB IntraVenous Piggy Back IVT IntraVenous Technician JAMA Journal of the American Medical Association JC JALISCO (Mexico) JCAHO ? licencing people and probably the JCAHO. JEMS Journal of Emergency Medical Services Johnnie Member of St. John Ambulance Association JOL Jaws of Life JRC Joint Review Committee on Educational Programs for EMT-P (US) JRCALC Joint Royal Colleges Ambulance Service Liaison Committee (UK) JVD Jugular Vein Distention K-9 canine KED Kendrick Extrication Device KTD Kendrick Traction Device KUB Kidney-Ureters-Bladder (X ray) KVO Keep Veins Open KY Kentucky (US state) LAS Lights And Siren LBB Long Back Board LCON Local Controller (SES) (Australia) LDH Large Diameter Hose LE Law Enforcement LE Lower Extremities LEAN mnemonic for Lidocaine, Epi, Atropine, Narcan LEL Lower Explosive Limit (Hazmat) LEMC Local Emergency Management Committee (Australia) LEMO Local Emergency Management Officer (Australia) LEO Law Enforcement Officer LEPC Local Emergency Planning Committee (US) (hazmat) LEPC Local Emergency Planning Committee LHQ Local Headquarters (SES Australia) LLQ Left Lower Quadrant LMA Laryngeal Mask Airway LMP Last Menstrual Period LOC Level of Consciousness LOF Lube, Oil, Filter (automotive) LOL Little Old Lady (affectionate) LOS Length Of Stay LOSAP Length Of Service Award Programs LOX Liquid Oxygen L-P Luecophoeresis ? ...sepsis work-ups require L-P ... LPG Liquified Petroleum Gas LPM Litres Per Minute (oxygen) LPN Licensed Practical Nurse LR Lactated Ringers (IV solution) LRS Lactated Ringers Solution LSB Long Spine Board LUQ Left Upper Quadrant LZ Landing Zone (aeromedical) MA Massachussets (US state) MAC Medical Advisory Committee (MD's who approve ALS Standing Orders) MACS Multi-Agency Coordination System MAE Moves All Extremities MAEW Moves All Extremities Well MAS Metropolitan Ambulance Service (Melbourne, Au) MAST Metro Arson Strike Team MAST Military Anti Shock Trousers MB Manitoba (province) (Canada) MBChB Medical Doctor (S.A. and most British ex-colonies) MC Medical Control MC MEXICO City? (Mexico) MCA Motor Car Accident (Australia) MCA Motorcycle Accident MCEP Medical Control Emergency Physician MCI Mass Casualty Incident MCI MyoCardial Infarcation MCP Medical Control Physician MD Maryland (US state) MD Medical Doctor MDI metered dose inhalers MDMA 3, 4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (Ecstasy) MDT Mobile Data Terminal(s) ME Maine (US state) ME Medical Examiner MELREF Melways Map Reference (Melbourne Australia) MERO Municipal Emergency Resource Officer (Australia) MERV Medical Emergency Response Vehicle MERV Medical Emergency Room Vehicle MetHB methemoglobin MFA Malicious False Alarm MFB Metro Fire Brigade (or it's Melbourne Fire Brigade) MFIRS ? Reporting System MH Marshall Islands (US) MHA Mental Health Act? MHA's and generally combative patients MHz MegaHertz, unit of frequency MI Michigan (US state) MI Myocardial Infarction MICA Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance MICN Mobile Intensive Care Nurse MICP Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic MICT Mobile Intensive Care Technician MICU Mobile Intensive Care Unit MMed Medical Specialist (S.A.) MMFB Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade (Australia) MMST ?> There is a Hospital/ ER component from DOD Terrorist training for MM MN Minnesota MN MICHOACAN (Mexico) MO Mental Observation (psych pt) MO Missouri MOE Ministry of the Environment (Ontario, Canada) MOH Ministry of Health MOI Mechanism Of Injury MOS Member Of Service MP Military Police (officer) MP Northern Mariana Islands (US) ... assume for Mariana Possesion MPDS Medical Priority Dispatch System MPPA Manitoba Prehospital Professions Association MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging MRSA Multidrug/Methicillin Resistant Staphlococcus Aureus MRT Medical Response Technician MRT Mountain Rescue Team MS Morphine Sulfate MS MORELOS (Mexico) MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet MSE "? . into intercept, pt is MSE is unchanged ." MSO4 Morphine Sulphate MSOF Multiple System Organ Failure MSOTW Man Slumped Over The Wheel MVA Motor Vehicle Accident MVC Motor Vehicle Collision N.DipEC National Diploma in Emerg. Care (Paramedic, S.A.) N/T No Tenderness/Not Tender NAD No Acute Distress (Interchangable) NAD No Apparent Distress (Interchangable) NAEMSP National Assoc. of EMS Physicians NAEMSP National Association of EMS Physicians (US) NAEMT National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (US) NALS Neonatal Advanced Life Support ... (renamed NRP) NAS National Academy of Science(s?) (US) NASAR National Association for Search and Rescue NASEMSD National Association of State EMS Directors (US) NAVEL mnemonic for Narcan, Atropine, Valium, Epi, Lido OBSOLETE NAWAS ? (radio) >> the next NAWAS but one day it just went away. NBC Nuclear, Biological, Chemical NC Nasal Cannula NC North Carolina (US state) NCEMSF National Collegiate Emergency Medical Service Foundation NCO NonCommisioned Officer NCOIC NonCommissioned Officer In Charge ? (Security reaction forces NCRC National Cave Rescue Commission NCSEMSTC National Council of State EMS Training Coordinators (US) NDipAET National Dipl. Ambulance & Emergency Tech (ZA, level 8 = NDMS National Disaster Medical System (US) NDO National Disasters Organisation (Australia) NECEMS The New England Council for EMS NEMA National Emergency Management Association (US) NEMSA National EMS Alliance (US) NEMSPA National EMS Pilots Association (US) NENA National Emergency Number Association (911) NERT Nuclear Emergency Response Team (Canada) NEST Nuclear Emergency Search Team (USA) NF Newfoundland (province) (Canada) NFA National Fire Academy (US) NFIC National Fire Information Center NFIRS National Fire Incident Reporting System NFNA National Flight Nurses Association (US) NFPA National Fire Protection Association NFPA National Flight Paramedics Association (US) NG NasoGastric NHS National Health Service (UK) NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (US) NIDDM Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Melittus NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (US) NIST National Institute of Science and Technology NIUSAR National Institute for Urban Search & Rescue (US) NJ New Jersey (US state) NKA No Known Allergies NKDA No Known Drug Allergies NKHC Non-Ketotic Hyperglycemic Coma NKHHC NonKetonic Hyperglycemic-Hyperosmolar Coma NL NUEVO LEON (Mexico) NLM National Library of Medicine (US) NLN National League of Nursing (US) NN Northern Mariana Islands NP Nurse Practitioner NPA Nasopharyngeal Airway NPO Nil Per Os (Nil per mouth) NPQ Not Physically Qualified NPR National Public Radio (US Government) NPRM Notice of Proposed Rule Making (US FCC) NPSH NeoPrene Supported Hose ? >... two inch NPSH unless its a suction NPWS National Parks and Wildlife Service (Australia) NR National Registry NRB Non-ReBreathing (mask) NRC National Research Council (US, Canada) NREMT National Registry Emergency Medical Technician test (US) NREMT Nationally Registered EMT (US) REMT is preferred NRFM Non-Rebreathing Face Mask NRP Nationally Registered Paramedic? REMT is preferred ? NRV Non-Rebreathing Valve NS Normal Saline (IV) NS Nova Scotia (province) (Canada) NSAID NonSteroidal AntiInflamatory Drug NSR Normal Sinus Rythym (cardiac) NSRI National Sea Rescue Institute (S.A. volunteer sea rescue) NSW New South Wales (state) (Australia) NSWSES New South Wales State Emergency Service (Australia) NT NasoTracheal NT Northern Teritory (Australia) NT Northwest Territories (territory) (Canada) NT Nunavut (Canada) NT NAYARIT (Mexico) NTES Northern Territory Emergency Service (Australia) NTG NiTroGylcerin NTSB National Transportation Safety Board (US) NV Nevada (US state) NVFC National Volunteer Fire Council NVOAD National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters NWT NorthWest Territories (territory) (Canada) NY New York (US state and city) NYC New York City NYS New York State (US state) O2 Oxygen OC OAXACA (Mexico) OCD Operations Control Division OD Overdose OEM Office of Emergency Management OEM Other/Original Equipment Manufacturer OEMS Office of Emergency Medical Services OG Orogastric OH Ohio (US state) OHSA Occupational Health and Safety Act (Ontario) OIC Officer in Charge OK Oklahoma (US state) OKC Oklahoma City (US) OLMC On-Line Medical Control OLS Office of Life Safety (IAFC) OLS Operation Life Safety now RFSI ON Ontario (province) (Canada) OPA Ontario Paramedic Asociation OPA Oropharyngeal Airway OPCS Organization de la Patrouille Canadienne de Ski OPIM ? ... the possibility of blood/OPIM on the scene. OR Oregon (US state) os Occuli Sinistrus (Left Eye) OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration (USA) O-sign unresponsive person with mouth open and tongue still in mouth OTC Over The Counter ou Right Eye PA Pennsylvania (US state) PA Physician Assistant PAC Pulmonary Artery Catheter (i.e. Swan-Ganz) PA-C Physician Assistant-Certified (there are UNcertified PAs??) PaCO2 arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide PADI Professional Association of Diving Instructors PAI ? dispatching PALS Pediatric Advanced Life Support PaO2 arterial partial pressure of oxygen PAR Personnel Accountability Report PAS Personnel Accountability System PASG Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment PASS Personal Alert Safety System PAT Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia PAT Personnel Accountability Tag PAT Physical Agility Test PATA Professional Aeromedical Transportation Association (US) PC Personal Computer PC Politically Correct PCCU Pediatric Cardiac Care Unit PCR Patient Care Record/Report PCT Pneumatic Compression Trousers PD Police Department PDA Property Damage Accident (MVA w/out injuries) PDO Property Damage Only PDR Physician's Desk Reference PE Physical/Primary Examination PE Prince Edward Island (province) (Canada) PE Pulmonary Edema PE Pulmonary Embolism PEA Pulseless Electrical Activity (cardiac) PEARL Pupils Equal And Reactive to Light (discouraged) PEC Prehospital Emerg Care (S.A.Red Cross bridging course to ECA) PEEP Positive End-Expiratory Pressure PEI Prince Edward Island (province) (Canada) PEP postexposure prophylaxis PERL Pupils Equal and Reactive to Light PERLA Pupils Equal and Reactive to Light and Accomodation PERRL Pupils Equal, Round, and Reactive to Light PERRLA Pupils Equal, Round, and Reactive to Light and Accomodation PERS Personal Emergency Response System PERS Public Emergency Reporting System (911) PET Positron Emission Tomography PetCO2 pressure of CO2 in the endotracheal tube PEV Plateau Exhalation Valve/Device (PEV), PFO Pissed (drunk) and Fell Over (from Australia) pH concentration of hydrogen ions PH PreHospital PHS Public Health Service PHTLS Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support PIA Personal Injury Accident (MVA involving injuries) PIC ? (radio) Rig that up with a PIC processor programmed to do a 3 minute pulse PICU Pediatric Intensive Care Unit PID Pelvic Inflammatory Disease PIO Public Information Officer PIPSTA Placed in Service Prior to Arrival PISS Pin Index Safety System PL PUEBLA (Mexico) PLB Personal Locator Beacon PLS Pediatric Life Support PM Preventative Maintenance PM ParaMedic PMHx Prior/Previous Medical History PMS Peripheral Motor (nervous) System PMX Prior Medical eXperience ? PNB Pulseless Not Breathing PND Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea PNS Peripheral Nervous System PO Peace Officer PO Per os (by mouth) PO Police Officer PO2 Partial pressure of O2 POC Parttime On Call ? ...the duty crew (2 FTs/1POC) went to a local... POQ Piss off quick!!!! (Get out of a dangerous situation) (Australia) POST Peace Officer Standards of Training POV Privately Owned Vehicle PPE Personal Protective Equipment PPG Personal Protective Garments PPV Positive Pressure Ventilation PQ Province of/du(de?) Quebec (Canada) PR per rectum PR Public Relations PR Puerto Rico (US) PRN To take as needed (meds) PROM Premature Rupture Of Membranes PSA Public Service Announcements PSAP Public Safety Answering Point (911) PSBT pyrotechnic seat belt tensioner PSC prehospital surgical cricothyrotomy (PSC), PSD Public Safety Diver PSDP Public Safety Dispatch Point (911) PSO Public Safety Officer PSSI Public Safety Scuba Instructor PSVT Paroxysmal Supra-Ventricular Tachycardia PT patient PTCA Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty PTL airway PVC Premature Ventricular Contraction PW Pressurized Water fire extinguisher PW Palau PWI "? I was an EMT instructor (PWI and BSI,back when they had those things)" QA Quality Assurance QC Quality Control QC Quebec (province) (Canada) QC Quick Connect QID Four times daily (meds) QLD Queensland (Australia) (state) QR Quick Release QR QUINTANA ROO (Mexico) QRS Quick Response Squad QRT Quick Response Team QRV Quick Response Vehicle QSES Queensland State Emergency Service (Australia) Q-sign unresponsive person with mouth open and tongue hanging out QT QUERETARO (Mexico) R&Rs Rules and Regulations R/O Rule Out RACES Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services - amateur radio in EMA RALP "? (vomiting) .. reflex, maybe its sensory overload the smell..." RAPID Railroad Accident Prevention and Immediate Deployment (CA US) (hazmat) RAR Road Accident Rescue (Australia) RCD Residual Current Device aka GFCI RCRA Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (US) (hazmat) RDC ReDirect Consideration REACT Radio Emergency Association Communications Team International (US) REMT Registered EMT (NREMT) REP Regional Evacuation Point RERB Remote Emergency Reporting Bureau (911) RFDS Royal Flying Doctor Service (Australia) RFI Request For Information RFP Request For Proposal RFQ Request For Quotation RFS Rural Fire Service RFSI Residential Fire Safety Institute RI Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (US state) RL Ringer's Lactate (IV) RLAS Red Lights And Sirens RLQ Right Lower Quadrant RLS Red Lights & Sirens RLSSC Royal Life Saving Society Canada RM Rescue Medic (South Africa) RMA Refuse[s] Medical Assistance RN Registered Nurse RNA Registered Nursing Assistant RNLI Royal National Lifeboat Institution (U.K.) RO Radio Officer ROM Range Of Movement (of a joint) ROT Rule Of Thumb RP Reporting Party RQ Reportable Quantity (hazmat) RR RailRoad RS Rescue Squad RSD Reflex Sympathetic Disorder RSI Rapid Sequence Induction RSI Repetitive Strain Injuries RSR Regular Sinus Rhythym RSV Respiratory Syncitial Virus RT Respiratory Therapist RTA Road Traffic Accident RUQ Right Upper Quadrant Rx Prescription S/O Station Officer (Australia) S/S Signs and Symptoms SA South Australia (state) SABA Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus SAED SemiAutomatic External Defibrillator SAEM Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (US) SaO2 O2 Saturation (pulse oximetry) SAR Search And Rescue SARA Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act (US) (hazmat) SASES South Australia State Emergency Service (Australia) SC South Carolina (US state) SC Subcutaneous SCAT Special Casualty Access Team (Australia) SCBA Self Contained Breathing Apparatus SCU ? ... our SCU had a burn unit. ... SCUBA Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus SD Sherrif's Department SE "? (names, indications, SE, CI, and...)" SERC State Emergency Response Committee (US) (hazmat) SES State Emergency Service (Australia) SFA Standard First Aid SFM Simple Face Mask SIDS Sudden Infant Death Syndrome SIMS Standardized Incident Management System SIPS side impact protection systems SITREP Situation Report SK Saskatchewan (province) (Canada) SL SubLingual SL SINALOA (Mexico) SLASA Surf Life-saving Association of South Africa SLUD Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Defecation (organophosphate pesticide poisoning) SMO Standing Medical Orders Smokie Firefighter (Australia) SO Sherrif's Office SOB Shortness Of Breath SOG Special Operations Group (VICPOL) (Australia) SOG Standard Operating Guidelines SOP Standard Operating Procedure SP SAN LUIS POTOSI (Mexico) Spo2 Saturation percentage of O2 SQ Subcutaneous (pronounced subQtaneous, more common of the two) SR SONORA (Mexico) SRS Supplemental Restraint System (airbag) SSM System Status Management SSM System Status Manager SSN Social Security Number SSO Senior Station Officer SSP ?our management is looking at reinstall the SSP/SSM system of ambulance SSRI Serotonin Serial Reuptake Inhibitor ST Sinus Tachycardia (cardiac) STAR Special Trauma And Rescue team START Simple Triage And Rapid Triage SUNY State University of New York SVR Systemic Vascular Resistance SVT Supra-Ventricular Tachycardia SWAT Special Weapons And Tactics Sx Surgery Sx Symptoms/Signs Sz Seizure T&R Treat and Release TA Traffic Accident TAS Tasmania (Australia) TB Trouble Breathing TB Tuberculosis TBF Total Body Failure TBI Traumatic Brain Injury TC telecommunicator TC Traffic Collisions (preferred to TA by POST) TC TABASCO (Mexico) TCA Tricyclic Anti Depressant TDG Transport of Dangerous Goods TDH Texas Department of Health TEU ? Medical Support ... SWAT/TEU team for the past two years. TIA Technical Interim Amendment (NFPA) TIA Transient Ischemic Attack (mini-stroke) TIA Thanks In Advance (internet) TICK Teamwork, Integrity, Courage, Knowledge TID Three Times Daily (meds) TKO To Keep Open TL TLAXCALA (Mexico) TM Tympanic Membrane TMU-A Technicien Medical d'Urgence - Ambulance TO Training Officer TOG Traffic Operations Group (VICPOL) (Australia) TOP Topically TOT "? (radio) So much for programming the TOT (or for those vintage base stations," tPA tissue Plasminogen Activator (cardiac drug) TPQ Threshold Planning Quanity (hazmat) TPR Temperature, Pulse, Respirations TQM Total Quality Management TRI Toxic Release Inventory (US) (hazmat) TS TAMAULIPAS (Mexico) TSCA Toxic Substance Control Act (US) (hazmat) TSES Tasmainian State Emergency Service (Australia) TTR TransThoracic Resistance Tx Treatment Txp Transport UCR Uniform Crime Reporting (system) UEL Upper Explosive Limit (hazmat) UHF Ultra High Frequency (radio) UHU Unit Hourly Utilization UK United Kingdom UL Underwriters Laboratory UL Urban Legend UMBC University of Maryland Baltimore County URI Upper Respiratory Infection URI URinary Incontinence US United States USA United States of America USAF United States Air Force USAR Urban Search And Rescue USDA US Department of Agriculture USFA US Fire Administration USFS United States Forest Service USLA United States Lifesaving Association USPHS US Public Health Service UT Utah (US state) UTO Unable To Obtain VA Veteran's Administration (US Government) VA Virginia (US state) VAC Volunteer Ambulance Corps VAD Voluntary Aid Detachment (Red Cross) (Australia) VASC Voluntary Aid Service Corps (Red Cross) (Australia) VAVRS Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads VDT Video Display Terminal VF Ventricular Fibrillation VFD Volunteer Fire Department V-fib Ventricular Fibrilation VHF Very High Frequency (radio) VHQ Victorian State Headquarters (SES Australia) VI Virgin Islands (US) VIC Victoria (Australia) (state) VICPOL Victoria Police (Australia) VICSES Victoria State Emergency Service (Australia) VNA Visiting Nursing Agency ? "...agency that ought to know out-of-hospital DNR laws, it's a VNA." VPB Ventricular Premature Beat VPC Ventricular Premature Contraction VRA Voluntary Rescue Association (Australia) VRE Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus? VRS Volunteer Rescue Squad VRT Vertical Rescue Technician (Australia) VSA Vital Signs Absent VT Vermont (US state) VU Nunavut (Canada) VY ? (state) VZ VERACRUZ (Mexico) WA Washington (US state) WA Western Australia (state) WADEM World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine WAFBB WA Fire Brigades Board WASES Western Australia State Emergency Service (Australia) WD Warm/Dry WEMT Wilderness EMT WFR Wilderness First Response WFS Women in the Fire Service, Inc. WHMIS Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (hazmat) (Ontario) WI Wisconsin (US state) WIC Women, Infants, and Children WNL Within Normal Limits....... WO Wide Open (IV) WPD Warm, Pink, Dry (skin signs) WTB Want To Buy (internet) WTC World Trade Center WV West Virginia (US state) WWW World Wide Web (INTERNET) Y/O year-old Y2K Year 2000 ("you're soaking in it!") YMMV Your Mileage May Vary (INTERNET) YN YUCATAN (Mexico) YOWM Year Old White Male YT Yukon (territory) (Canada) ZA South Africa (INTERNET domain) ZDV zidovudine ZS ZACATECAS (Mexico)