Acute Myocardial Infarction (AMI)

Heart attack; death of the heart muscle following obstruction of blood flow to it.  Acute in the context means “new” or “happening right now”.

Advanced directive

Written documentation that specifies medical treatment for a competent patient should he or she become unable to make decisions.

Advanced Life Support (ALS)

Advanced lifesaving procedures, such as cardiac monitoring, starting IV fluids, giving medications, and using advanced airway adjuncts.

Aerial ladder

A large ladder commonly found on top of a ladder truck.  It is extended to its destination by an operator located at the panel of the ladder truck, who operates the ladder using hydraulics and electronics.

ALS

Advanced Life Support

AMI

Acute Myocardial Infarction

Bag Valve Mask (BVM)

A device with face mask attached to a bag containing a reservoir and connected to oxygen; delivers more than 90% supplemental oxygen.

Base Hospital

Local hospitals where a radio room and dedicated nurse can be found.  The nurse will field radio calls from the field as first responders call in information regarding the patients they are transporting.

Basic Life Support (BLS)

Noninvasive emergency lifesaving care that is used to treat airway obstruction, respiratory arrest, or cardiac arrest.

BLS

Basic Life Support

Body Substance Isolation (BSI)

An infection control concept and practice that assumes that all body fluids are potentially infectious.

Braided rope

Constructed by uniformly intertwining strands of rope together.

Brush company

Extinguishes wildland fires and protects structures in the urban-interface.

Brush gear

Protective clothing that is lighter than turnouts, and worn when responding to wildland firefighting incidents.  Brush coats are also often worn as a protective coat worn when responding to medical aids.

BSI

Body Substance Isolation

Bunkers or Bunker gear

See “Turnout gear”

BVM

Bag Valve Mask

Carbon dioxide extinguisher

Carbon dioxide stored under pressure, used for Class B and C Fires

Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA)

The interruption of blood flow to the brain that results in the loss of brain function.

CHF

Congestive Heart Failure

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

A slow process of dilation and disruption of the airways and alveoli, caused by chronic bronchial obstruction.

CISD

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing

Class A fire

Ordinary combustibles.

Class B fire

Flammable liquids.

Class B uniform

Collared shirt with badge and nameplate, pants and steel-toed boots.  Typically worn during normal operating hours while on shift.

Class C fire

Energized electrical equipment.

Class D fire

Combustible metals.

Combination attack

Uses the steam-generating technique or ceiling-level attack combined with a direct attack on materials burning near the floor level.

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

A disorder in which the heart loses part of its ability to effectively pump blood, usually as a result of damage to heart muscle and usually resulting in a backup of fluid into the lungs.

Continuous quality improvement (CQI)

A system of internal and external reviews and audits of all aspects of an EMS system.

COPD

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Cribbing

2×4 or 4×4 pieces of wood that are used to stabilize vehicles during patient extrication, as well many other rescue operations.

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD)

A confidential group discussion of a highly traumatic incident that usually occurs within 24 to 72 hours of the incident.

Critical Care Nurse

Critical-care nurses practice in settings where patients require complex assessment, high intensity therapies and interventions, and continuous nursing vigilance

CVA

Cerebrovascular Accident

Direct attack

The most efficient use of water on free-burning fires, made by a direct attack on the base of the fire with a solid stream or straight stream.

DNR

Do Not Resuscitate

Do Not Resuscitate (DNR)

Written documentation giving permission to medical personnel not to attempt resuscitation in the event of cardiac arrest.

Dry chemical extinguisher

Among the most common portable fire extinguishers in use today, used for Class A, B and C fires. Typical chemicals used include sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate and others.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)

A multidisciplinary system that represents the combined efforts of several professionals and agencies to provide prehospital emergency care to the sick and injured

Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

An EMS professional who is trained and licensed by the state to provide emergency medical care in the field.  Also known as an EMT-B (Basic).

EMS

Emergency Medical Services

EMT

Emergency Medical Technician

Engine company

Deploys hoselines for fire attack and exposure protection.

E.R. Tech

Emergency Room Technician – works under the scope of EMT-Basic, under the supervision of a doctor and/or nurse.

FF

Firefighter.

FF/PM

Firefighter/Paramedic

Fire Tetrahedron

In order for combustion to occur, four components are necessary: oxygen (oxidizing agent), fuel, heat and self-sustained chemical reaction.

Firefighter

An individual who can perform many functions, including but not limited to: being physically fit, perform field assessments of patients and deliver medical care, respond to fires and other emergencies, operate tools and handle equipment, keep the fire station in clean and working order, and work well with others – coworkers and the public alike.

First-due engine company

Also known as “First-in” – the first arriving engine company to arrive at the scene of an incident usually initiates incident command and/or fire attack, taking into consideration the present and expected behavior of the fire.

Forcible entry

The technique used by fire department personnel to gain access to a structure when normal means of access is locked, blocked or nonexistent.

GCS

Glasgow Coma Scale.

Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)

A method of assessing a patient’s level of consciousness by scoring the patient’s response to eye opening, motor response, and verbal response; used primarily in the detailed and ongoing assessment.

Golden Hour

The period of time during which treatment of a patient in shock or with traumatic injured is most critical.  This period of time is generally thought to be the first 60 minutes after the injury.

Ground ladder

Any ladder that can be found on a fire apparatus, and placed at an incident by firefighters.

Halligan

A manual forcible entry tool with characterized by 3 distinct parts – the adz, the pick and the fork.

Hazardous materials company (HazMat)

Responds to and mitigates hazardous materials incidents.

Incident Command System (ICS)

A system used to organize resources during mitigation of an emergency.

Indirect attack

When firefighters are unable to enter the structure or fire area because of intense fire conditions, an indirect attack can be made from outside the area through a doorway or window.

Irons

A term used to describe 2 tools being carried together: the flat-headed ax and the halligan.

Jaws of Life

Also known as “Spreaders” – powered hydraulic spreaders that are capable of pushing or pulling with force up to 22,00 psi.

Kernmantle rope

Composed of a braided covering or sheath (mantle) over the main load-bearing strands (kern).

Kernmantle rope

– composed of a braided covering or sheath (mantle) over the main load-bearing strands (kern).

LCES

Lookouts, Communication, Escape Routes and Safety Zones. This acronym is used to help Firefighters identify important aspects of any emergency scene. Most commonly used at wildland firefighting incidents.

Medical director

The physician who authorizes or delegates the authority to perform medical care in the field.

No definitions

O-P-Q-R-S-T

The six pain questions: Onset, Provocation, Quality, Radiation, Severity, Time & Treatment.

OSHA – Occupational Safety and Health Administration

The federal regulatory compliance agency that develops, publishes and enforces guidelines concerning safety in the workplace. Cal-OSHA is the state agency that compliments and works with the federal agency (Fed-OSHA).

Paramedic

Also known as an EMT-P (Paramedic), or PM – an EMT who has extensive training in advanced life support, including intravenous therapy, pharmacology, cardiac monitoring, and other advanced assessment and treatment skills.

Personal Alert Safety System (PASS)

Provides life-safety protection by emitting a loud shriek if the firefighter should collapse or remain motionless for approximately 30 seconds.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Any protective equipment worn by a first-responder, either to help shield against body fluids or intense environmental conditions.

Pike pole

A long tool that gives a firefighter a reach advantage. Can be used to break a window, pull ceiling tiles, or other jobs that are out of reach.

PM

Paramedic

PPE

Personal Protective Equipment

Pressurized water extinguisher (PW)

Water is stored in a tank along with compressed air and used for Class A fires.

No definitions

Rescue squad/company

Typically responsible for the removal of victims from areas of danger or entrapment.

Salvage & Overhaul

Salvage operations consist of those methods and operating procedures associated with firefighting that aid in reducing primary and secondary damage during firefighting operations.  Overhaul operations consist of searching for and extinguishing hidden or remaining fires.

Scoop stretcher

A stretcher that is designed to be split into two or four sections that can be fitted around a patient who is lying on the ground or other relatively flat surface; also called a split litter.

Second-due engine company

Also known as “Second-in” – unless otherwise assigned, the second engine company must first make sure that adequate water supply is established to the fireground.  This usually entails finding a nearby fire hydrant and making connection to that water supply.

Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA)

Worn like a backpack, this device protects the face and lungs from toxic smoke and products of combustion and provides clean breathing air to the firefighter.

Stair chair

A lightweight folding device that is used to carry a conscious, seated patient up or down stairs.

TIA

Transient Ischemic Attack

Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)

A disorder of the brain in which brain cells temporarily stop working because of insufficient oxygen, causing stroke-like symptoms that resolve completely within 24 hours of onset.

Truck (ladder) company

Performs forcible entry, search and rescue, ventilation, salvage and overhaul, and provides access to upper levels of a structure.

Turnout gear

The heavy protective gear worn into a structure fire in order to protect against heat, smoke and other elements.

No definitions

Ventilation (EMS)

Exchange of air between the lungs and the air of the environment, either spontaneously by the patient or with assistance from first responder.

Ventilation (Fire)

The systematic removal and replacement of heated air, smoke and gases from a structure with cooler air.