First Aid/Appendix A: Glossary


 * Abrasion: A superficial wound in which the topmost layers of the skin are scraped off
 * ABCs: Airway, breathing and circulation
 * AED: Automated External Defibrillator
 * Airway: The passages which transfer air from the outside environment to the lungs; the tracha, bronchi, bronchioles and alveoli
 * Artery: A blood vessel carrying blood away from the heart; contains oxygen-rich, high-pressure blood in the systemic cardiorespiratory system
 * Avulsion: A tearing away of a section of skin from the layers of tissue beneath it
 * Bystander: Any person, trained or untrained, who assists in an emergency situation, but not as part of a duty of employment
 * Capillary: The smallest blood vessels in the body; the skin is rife with capillaries
 * Carotid artery: The main artery providing blood supply to the head.[[Image:Gray507.png|thumb|The carotid artery is the largest artery shown here; click for a larger version.]]
 * Causation: Determination of whether the defendant's actions are causally linked to any harm
 * Circulation: The movement of blood throughout the body; performed by the heart
 * Consciousness (level of): A state of awareness or lack thereof
 * Consent: A legal condition whereby a person can be said to have given consent based upon an appreciation and understanding of the facts and implications of an action
 * CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
 * Cyanosis: The bluish coloration of the skin due to the presence of deoxygenated blood near the skin surface; occurs when the oxygen saturation of arterial blood falls below 85%
 * Defibrillation: Delivering a therapeutic dose of electrical energy to the affected heart with a device called a defibrillator
 * Diabetes: a disease causing an inability to regulate the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood
 * Distal: The point on a limb furthest from its point of attachment to the body
 * Duty of care: A legal obligation imposed on an individual requiring that they exercise a reasonable standard of care while performing any acts that could foreseeably harm others
 * EMS: Emergency Medical System or Emergency Medical Services
 * History: One of the 3 parts of a secondary survey
 * Hypoxia: A condition in which insufficient oxygen reaches body tissue
 * Incision: A clean cut caused by a sharp-edged object
 * Insulin: a hormone that allows glucose to travel from the bloodstream into the cells
 * Laceration: Irregular wounds caused by a blunt impact to soft tissue which lies over hard tissue; tearing of skin
 * Landmark: The location of compressions; on the midline of the chest, even with the nipples
 * Liability: A legal doctrine that makes a person responsible for the damage and loss caused by their acts and omissions regardless of culpability; the requirements to prove liability are a)a duty of care exists b)the standard of care was breached c)causation exists
 * Myocardial Infarction: Heart attack; bleeding or blockage cuts off blood flow to part of the heart muscle
 * Nailbed: The tissue under the nail; pinching the nail and observing the blood return to the nailbed is a good test of circulation at that location
 * Oedema (Edema): Swelling in the lower legs and ankles. Oedema is caused by a fluid build-up in the body.
 * Proximal: The point on a limb closest to its point of attachment to the body
 * Puncture: A wound caused by an object puncturing the skin
 * Semi-prone position: A position which keeps the tongue from obstructing the airway and allows any fluids to drain from the mouth (aka recovery position)
 * Standard of Care: The degree of prudence and caution required of an individual who is under a duty of care; the requirements of the standard are closely dependent on circumstances
 * Tachycardia: A rapid pulse generally a pulse over 100 at rest
 * Vein: A blood vessel that carries blood toward the heart; most veins carry low-oxygen blood