Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

12 Glossary

altered mental status – When the patient is not behaving normally. They may not be thinking clearly or not respond to their environment. They may be unconscious or seem alert but confused. amnionic sac – A bag-like structure surrounding the fetus. The sac is full of amnionic fluid, a liquid that surrounds and protects the fetus. amputation – The partial or complete severing of a body part. anaphylaxis – A potentially life-threatening severe allergic reaction that may cause airway obstruction and/or organ failure. angina – Chest pain that occurs when the heart’s need for oxygen is more than the supply. anxiety (panic) attack – A condition of indecision and fear caused when a person becomes overwhelmed by a situation.

artificial circulation – Chest compressions that circulate blood to the brain, organs, and body. artificial respiration – Rescue breaths that provide oxygen to the lungs. asthma (bronchial asthma) – A respiratory condition that affects a person’s ability to breathe properly. aura – Symptoms that a patient may experience before they have a seizure. aural distortion – Not hearing people sounds properly or at all. automated external defibrillator (AED) – An electronic device that is able to analyze and provide an electric shock (defibrillate) to a patient who is in cardiac arrest.

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