GLOSSARY

International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR)

ILCOR formed in 1992 to provide an opportunity for the major organizations in resuscitation to work together on CPR and other protocols.

Ischemic Stroke

The most common type of stroke, usually caused by blood clots and usually a result of atherosclerosis. (See also Hemorrhagic Stroke.)

Look Test

A visual check to see whether a patient looks to be sick or not sick. This first glance includes checking the position the patient is sitting in, the environment they are in, their skin colour, if they are sweating, breathing heavily, or clutching any part of their body, or if they are bleeding.

Mechanism of Injury (MOI)

The manner in which a physical injury occurs.

Multiple Casualty Situation

A situation, like a multi car accident, where many patients need First Aid and medical attention at the same time.

Myocardial Infarction (MI)

Also known as a heart attack.

Naloxone

A drug that blocks the effects of opioids and temporarily reverses a drug overdose caused by opioids.

Neurons

Specialized cells designed to transmit information to other nerve cells, muscle, or gland cells. A neuron is the basic working unit of the brain.

Nitroglycerin

A medication commonly used to treat angina.

Opiate

A drug that is naturally found in the opium poppy.

Opioids

A class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription.

Pancreas

The pancreas is an organ of the digestive system and endocrine system.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Items worn to provide a barrier to help prevent potential exposure to infectious disease; for example, gloves, respirators, medical gowns, and goggles.

Postictal Phase

The altered state of consciousness experienced by a patient after a seizure. It usually lasts between 5 and 30 minutes. Signs and symptoms include drowsiness, confusion, nausea, headache, or migraine.

Primary Survey

The ABCs of the Primary Survey help determine whether or not the patient has life threatening injuries. The steps are: open the patient’s Airway; check if the patient is Breathing; check for Circulation and start chest Compressions, if needed.

Receptors

An organ or cell that is able to respond to light, heat, or other external stimuli and transmit a signal to a sensory nerve.

Recovery Position

A comfortable resting position that helps decrease the ‘workload’ on a patient’s heart.

Rescue Breathing

Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Ryan’s Law

An Ontario law that forces schools to allow children to have their inhalers with them. It’s named after Ryan Gibbons of Straffordville, Ontario who died on 9 October 2012 at age 12, because his school didn’t allow him to carry his inhaler with him.

SAMPLE

An acronym that helps a person easily remember important information to collect when taking a patient’s history. It stands for Signs and Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past Medical History, Last Meal or Last Oral Intake, and Events Leading to the Incident.