Glossary

MyCPR NOW™ Glossary

Glossary & Abbreviations

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome:  The deterioration of the immune system caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

Allergic Reaction:  A reaction of one's body to a foreign substance that causes that body to swell, itch, cause a rash

American Heart Association (AHA):  An association that creates CPR and first aid guidelines 

American Red Cross:  An association that creates first aid and CPR guidelines

Analyzing:  A prompt from the AED that alerts the rescuers that the device is checking the victim for a sustainable rhythm

Arterial Bleeding:  The most serious type of external bleeding resulting from a damaged artery

Automated External Defibrillator (AED):  An electrical device that delivers doses of energy to engage the heart muscle back into a sustainable rhythm

AVPU:  Alertness, Verbally responsive, Pain responsive or Unresponsive 

Axillary Region:  The area between the upper limbs and thorax - armpit area

Bag Valve Mask (BVM):  A ventilation device that utilizes a bag and a 1-way valve to provide better ventilation assistance to a victim

Barrier Device:  A thin plastic device used during mouth-to-mouth ventilations that provides limited exposure protection

Beats Per Minute (BPM):  A term used to define the amount of heart contractions per minute

Blind Finger Sweep:  Blindly attempting to sweep a foreign body from a victims airway

Bloodborne Pathogen:  An infectious microorganism that can be potentially dangerous if an individual comes into contact with it

Body Substance Isolation (BSI):  The process of protecting oneself against harmful microorganisms

Brachial Artery:  A large artery that is used to obtain a child's pulse, located in the inner, middle portion of the upper arm

Capillary Bleeding:  Surface bleeding that is easily controlled

Capillary Refill Time (CRT):  The time is takes color to return to an external capillary bed

Cardiac Arrest:  The failure of the heart to beat

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR):  The active engagement of compressions and ventilations for a victim suffering from a sudden cardiac arrest

Carotid Artery:  A large artery that is used to obtain an adult's pulse, located between the trachea and the sternocleidomastoid

Chest Recoil:  The re-expansion of the chest, allowing blood flow to the heart

Child:  A person ages 1 through puberty

Clear:  A prompt from the AED that alerts the rescuers to clear the victim for the administration of a shock

Compressions:  The act of pushing on the chest to resuscitate a victim

Compressions-Airway-Breathing (C-A-B):  A sequence of events to conduct CPR

Contaminated Sharps:  Contaminated needles and objects that represent a penetration hazard

CPR:  Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a lifesaving technique of providing compressions and ventilations to a victim of cardiac arrest.

Defibrillation:  An electrical impulse used to eliminate abnormal, rapid heartbeats and re-establish a normal heart rhythm

Dehydration:  A harmful reduction in the amount of water in the body

E-C Clamp:  A technique used to secure a pocket mask or BVM where the thumb and index fingers form the C shape and the remaining three fingers form an E shape

Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC):  A term used to define immediate recognition and care concerning a cardiovascular emergency

Encircling Hands:  A technique used in multiple rescuer CPR for infants involving wrapping hands around an infants body and compressing with the thumbs

Epinephrine (Epi):  A drug most commonly used to stop an allergic reaction

Epi Pen:  An auto-injection device most commonly used to address a severe allergic reaction

Epistaxis:   A nose bleed

Femoral Artery:  A large artery that is used for obtaining a child's pulse, located in the upper, inner thigh

Foreign Body:  An unknown obstruction to the airway

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV):  A microorganism that attacks the immune system causing Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS).

Hepatitis B:  A virus that attacks the liver and causes severe pain

Hepatitis C:  A virus that attacks the liver and commonly shows little to no signs

Infant:  A person who is less than 1 year old

Injury Prevention:  A system of checks and balances to ensure a workplace is in the safest possible order

Mucous Membrane:  A membrane tissue that often lines body cavities and secretes mucous

Multiple Rescuer:  A team of at least 2 members that are conducting rescue efforts for a victim

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):  A government organization that monitors traffic safety on highways.

No Shock Advised:  A prompt from the AED to alert the rescuers that the device does not detect a shockable rhythm

Occupational Health & Safety Association (OSHA):  The governing body that oversees the workplace for safety and health standards

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):  The equipment used to protect yourself against harmful microorganisms, such as gloves, gowns, caps, boots and masks

Pocket Mask:  A mask device that can be used during mouth-to-mouth ventilations providing better exposure protection by use of a 1-way valve

Rescuer:  The individual engaging in rescue procedures for a victim

Respiratory Arrest:  The failure to breathe

Responsiveness:  The active involvement of a victim as classified by Alertness, Verbally responsive, Pain responsive or Unresponsive (AVPU)

RICE:  Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation

Risk Management:  An index of suspicion of potential risk and mitigation of those risks to prevent accidents

Seizure:  An uncontrolled disturbance in the brain, most commonly identified as convulsion-type movements

Shock:  A potentially fatal decrease in blood flow that causes the body to become pale with low blood pressure and a weak pulse

Shock Advised:  A prompt from the AED that alerts the rescuers that the device does detect a shockable rhythm

Single Rescuer:  A single individual conducting rescue efforts for a victim 

Sniffing Position:  A head position with a slight tilt, as if lifting the head slightly to sniff

Source Individual:  An individual with a known harmful microorganism, such as HIV, Hep B, Hep C, AIDS, etc.

Stroke:  A condition caused by a clot or bleed within the brain that decreases the blood flow to the brain, potentially causing possible function paralysis

Sternocleidomastoid:  A large muscle on the side of the neck which can be used to determine the position of the carotid artery

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA):  An incident that occurs when the heart stops beating abruptly and without warning.

Trachea:  An airway referred to as the 'windpipe' which can be used to determine the position of the carotid artery

Tourniquet:  A device used to help control bleeding when direct pressure is not effective

Universal Precautions:  Refers to standard procedures used to avoid contact with blood and other bodily fluids

Venous Bleeding:  A serious type of external bleeding resulting from a damaged vein

Ventilations:  The act of assisting a victim with breathing

Victim:  The individual suffering from an emergency incident

Xiphoid Process:  A small cartilaginous process that projects from the lower end of the sternum