Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

12 Glossary

AVPU scale – A mnemonic used to remember the method and criteria of determining the patient’s level of consciousness. It stands for alert, verbal, physical, and unresponsive/unconscious. avulsion – A type of wound where a flap of skin and tissue is partially or completely torn away from the body. bandage – Used to hold a dressing in place, to keep pressure on a wound, to support or immobilize a joint or limb and provide padding around an injury. baseline vital signs – The first set of vital signs that the first aider takes. All future measurements will be compared to these vitals Battle’s sign – Bruising behind the ear, which may be a sign of a head injury. bones – Form the skeleton of the body that provides us with our human form, protects the vital organs of the body, and allows us to move.

burn – Occurs when the body or a body part receives more radiant energy then it can absorb. carbon dioxide – A waste produced by the body’s cells and expelled during breathing. carbon monoxide – An odorless poison gas that is produced by combustion. capsule – Tough tissue that holds joints together. cardiac arrest – The complete lack of electrical activity or the complete lack of effective mechanical (pumping) activity in the heart. cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) – Combines two basic life support (BLS) skills: artificial circulation and artificial respiration. CPR is performed until the heart resumes beating, the patient is handed over to other medical help, or the first aider becomes too exhausted to continue. cartilage – A tissue that cushions and protects the joint.

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