EMS Acronyms
From: hwt@bnr.ca (Henry Troup)
Official Acronyms
- AAA
- American Ambulance Association
- AAOx3
- Awake, Alert, Oriented x 3 [person/place/time]
- AAT
- Australian Antarctic Teritory
- AB
- ABortion
- AB
- Alberta (province) (Canada)
- ABG
- Arterial Blood Gases
- ACLS
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support
- ACRONYM
- A Contrived Reduction Of Nouns, Yielding Mnemonics
- ACT
- Australian Capital Territory
- ACTES
- Australian Capital Territory Emergency Service (Australia)
- AEA
- Ambulance Emergency Assistant (South Africa, after 1991)
- AED
- Automatic External Defibrillator
- AFA
- Advanced First Aid
- AFA
- Automatic Fire Alarm (or Automatic False Alarm)
- AFRS
- Aviation Fire and Rescue Service
- AICD
- Automatic Implantable Cardioverter/Defibrillator
- AICD
- Automatic Internal Cardiac Defibrillator
- AIDS
- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
- AIS
- Accident Investigation Section (VICPOL) (Australia)
- ALI
- Automatic Location Identification/Address Location Identification (911)
- ALS
- Advanced Life Support
- ALSOB
- Alcohol Like Substance On Breath
- AMA
- Against Medical Advice
- AMA
- Ambulance Medical Assistant (South Africa, before 1991, = EMT-I)
- Ambo
- Ambulance Officer (Australia)
- AMI
- Acute Myocardial Infarction
- ANI
- (also used to denote radio unit number identifiers.)
- ANI
- Automatic Number Identification (telephony/911)
- ANP
- Advanced Nurse Practictioner
- AO
- Ambulance Officer
- A/O
- Alert and Oriented
- A/O
- Ambulance Officer
- AOB
- Alcohol On Breath
- AOS
- Arrived On Scene
- APCO
- Associated Public-safety Communications Officers
- APE
- Acute Pulmonary Edema
- APE
- Acute Pulmonary Embolism
- APE
- Apparatus, Personnel, and Equipment
- ARC
- Australian Resuscitation Council
- ARC
- American Red Cross
- ARCHIE
- Automated Resouce for Chemical Hazard Incident Evaluation
- ARCS
- Australian Red Cross Society
- ARES
- Amateur Radio Emergency Service
- AS
- American Samoa (US)
- ASHD
- Arteriosclerotic Heart Disease
- ASV
- Ambulance Service Victoria (Australia)
- ATF
- Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (US Government)
- ATLS
- Advanced Trauma Life Support
- BAC
- Basic Ambulance Course (South Africa, level 4 = EMT-A)
- BAC
- Blood Alcohol Content
- BATF
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (US Government)
- BBP
- Blood-Borne Pathogen
- BBS
- Bulletin Board System
- BC
- British Columbia (province) (Canada)
- BFB
- Bush Fire Brigade (Western Australia)
- BFB
- Bush Fire Brigade (Australia)
- BFBB
- Bush Fire Brigade Board (Western Australia)
- BLEVE
- Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapour Explosion
- BLM
- Bureau of Land Management (US)
- BLS
- Basic Life Support
- BNAS
- Bell Neutral Answer Service (911 Ontario)
- BNTI
- Blind NasoTracheal Intubation
- BP
- Blood Pressure
- BRT
- Big Red Trucks
- BSN
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- BTLS
- Basic Trauma Life Support
- BTW
- By The Way (INTERNET)
- Bushie
- Member of Bush Fire Brigade (Australia)
- BVM
- Bag Valve Mask (Ambu Bag (tm))
- CA
- Cancer
- CA
- California
- CAAS
- Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services (US)
- CAD
- Computer Aided Dispatch
- CAD
- Coronary Artery Disease
- CAMEO
- Computer Assisted Management of Emergency Operations
- CAP
- Civil Air Patrol
- CAS
- Chemical Abstracts - usually CAS number (Hazmat)
- CAS
- Children's Aid Society (Ontario, Canada)
- CB
- Citizen's Band, 27 MHz radio (US)
- CC
- Chief Complaint
- CCA
- Critical Care Assistant (Level 7 - Paramedic)
- CCU
- Cardiac Care Unit
- CDC
- Centers for Disease Control (US government)
- CERB
- Central Emergency Reporting Bureau (911)
- CERCLA
- Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (US) (hazmat
- CET
- Certified Engineering Technician
- CEU
- Continuing Education Units (a metric, not an organization)
- CFA
- Country Fire Authority (Australia)
- CFR
- Certified First Responder
- CFR
- Code of Federal Regulations (US)
- CFR
- Crash Fire Rescue (airports)
- CFS
- Country Fire Service (South Australia)
- CHF
- Congestive Heart Failure
- CIERA
- Canadian Industrial Emergency Response Association
- CIH
- Certified Industrial Hygienist
- CIS
- Commonwealth of Independent States (republics of former USSR)
- CIS
- Critical Incident Stress
- CISD
- Critical Incident Stress Debriefing
- CLI
- Call Line ID (seen from Australia) (telephony)
- CNA
- Certified Nurse's Aide
- CNID
- Calling Number Identification (telephony)
- CNN
- Cable Network News (TV)
- CO
- carbon monoxide
- C/O
- Complains Of
- CO2
- carbon dioxide
- COPD
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- CPAP
- Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
- CPR
- Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation
- CPREF
- California Prehospital Research and Education Foundation
- CRNA
- Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
- CRT
- Cardiac Rescue Technician (State of Maryland's EMT-I)
- CRT
- Certified Radiology Technician/Technologist
- CRT
- Certified Rescue Technician
- CSF
- Cerebral Spinal Fluid
- CSPS
- Canadian Ski Patrol System
- CT
- Computerized Tomography
- CT
- Connecticut (US state)
- CTC
- Critical Trauma Care (Primarily New York State)
- CTD
- Close To Death
- CVA
- Cerebro-vascular Accident
- CYA
- Cover Your (Anatomy)
- D5W 5%
- Dextrose in Water (IV solution)
- DAN
- Diver's Alert Network
- DC
- DisConnect
- DC
- District of Columbia (US)
- D/C
- Discontinue
- DEMC
- District Emergency Management Committee (Australia)
- DEMO
- District Emergency Management Officer (Australia)
- DES
- Diethyl Stilbestrol
- DES
- Disaster and Emergency Services
- DFO
- Done Fell Out
- DIC
- Dead in Car
- Dip PEC
- Post-grad diploma for Dr in E.med eg.:MBChB.DipPEC
- DIVCON
- Divisional Controller (SES) (Australia)
- DMAT
- Disaster Medical Assistance Team
- DNI
- Do Not Intubate (similar to DNR)
- DNR
- Do Not Resuscitate
- DOA
- Dead On Arrival
- DOB
- Date Of Birth
- DOH
- Department Of Health
- DOT
- Department of Transport
- DPC
- Disaster Preparedness Commission (NYS)
- DPS
- Department of Public Safety
- DRT
- Dead Right There
- DUI
- Driving Under the Influence
- DWAI
- Driving While Ability Impaired
- DWI
- Driving While Impaired/Intoxicated
- Dx
- Diagnosis
- E911
- Enhanced 911 (the system that displays calling number and address)
- EARV
- Emergency Ambulance Response Vehicle
- ECA
- Emergency Care Assistant (South Africa Red Cross =EMT, for Volunteer)
- ECA
- Emergency Care Attendant
- ECC
- Emergency Co-ordination Centre (Australia)
- ECG
- Electro CardioGram
- ED
- Emergency Department
- EDNA
- Emergency Department Nurses Association
- EDP
- Emotionally Disturbed Person (same as MO)
- EEG
- ElectroEncephaloGram
- EENT
- Ears,Eyes,Nose And Throat
- EHS
- Extremely Hazardous Substance (hazmat)
- EHS
- Emergency Health Services
- EKG
- ElectroCardioGram (old, from German ElectroKardioGram)
- ELT
- Emergency Locator Transmitter ? (aircraft)
- EMA
- Emergency Management Australia (formerly NDO) (Australia)
- EMA
- Emergency Medical Assistant (Level 5 - currently being phased out)
- EMA
- Emergency Management Agency (old Civil Defense) (US)
- EMA
- Emergency Medical Attendant (Newfoundland,Canada)
- EMD
- ElectroMechanical Dissociation (cardiac)
- EMD
- Emergency Medical Dispatcher
- EMR
- Emergency Medical Response (Australia)
- EMS
- Emergency Medical Services
- EMS-C
- Emergency Medical Services for Children
- EMSI
- Emergency Medical Services Instructor
- EMT
- Emergency Medical Technician
- EMT-A
- Ambulance
- EMT-AD
- Automatic Defibrillator
- EMT-B
- Basic
- EMT-CC
- Critical Care
- EMT-CT
- Cardiac Tech
- EMT-D
- Defibrillator
- EMT-I
- Intermediate
- EMT-M
- MAST (PA)
- EMT-P
- Paramedic
- EMT-ST
- Shock Trauma
- EMT-T
- EMT-Tactical
- EMT-W
- Wilderness EMT
- ENA
- Emergency Nursing Association
- EOC
- Emergency Operations Centre (Australia)
- EOH
- Ethyl Alcohol
- EPA
- Environmental Protection Agency (US) (hazmat)
- ER
- Emergency Room
- ERT
- Emergency Response Team
- ESD
- Emergency Services Department (another term for ER)
- ESDA
- Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (previous name for EMA)
- ESN
- Emergency Service Number (911)
- ESU
- Emergency Service Unit
- ET
- EndoTracheal (tube)
- ETA
- Estimated Time of Arrival
- ETI
- EndoTracheal Intubation ?
- ETOH
- Ethanol (Ethyl Alcohol)
- ETT
- EndoTracheal Tube
- EVOC
- Emergency Vehicle Operation and Control
- EVS
- Emergency Vehicle Status (Australia)
- EW
- Emergency Ward
- FALN
- Fuerza Armada para Liberacion Nacional (Puerto Rican Liberation Army)
- FAQ
- Frequently Asked/Answered Questions (list) (INTERNET)
- FAS
- First Aid Squad
- FB
- Foreign Body
- FD
- Fire Department
- FDA
- Food And Drug Adminstration (US)
- FEMA
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (US)
- FF
- Firefighter
- FHR
- Fetal Heart Rate
- FHT
- Fetal Heart Tones
- FL
- Florida (US state)
- FLSA
- Fair Labor Standards Act
- FM
- Federated States of Micronesia (US)
- FM
- Fire Marshall
- FM
- Frequency Modulated (radio)
- FPE
- Fire Protection Engineer
- FR
- Fire Resistive
- FR
- First Response/First Responder
- Fx
- Fracture
- GOA
- Gone On Arrival
- GOMER
- Get Out of My ER
- GPS
- Global Positioning System
- GRS
- General Radio Service, 27 MHz radio (Canada)
- GS
- Good Samaritan (law)
- GSW
- GunShot Wound
- GU
- Genito-Urinary
- GU
- Guam (US)
- HASE
- Health and Safety Education (Australian Red Cross)
- HASHD
- Hypertensive Arteriosclerotic Heart Disease
- HEPA
- High Efficiency Particulate Air (filter/mask)
- HIV
- Human Immuno-deficiency Virus
- HTR
- Heavy and Tactical Rescue
- Hx
- History
- HZ
- Hazard Zone
- IAFC
- International Association of Fire Chiefs
- IAFF
- International Association of Fire Fighters
- IC
- Incident Commander
- I/C
- Instructor/Coordinator
- ICS
- Incident Command System
- ICU
- Intensive Care Unit
- ID
- Idaho (US state)
- ID
- Identify/Indentification
- IL
- Illinois (US state)
- IMS
- Incident Management System
- IPPB
- Intermittent Positive Pressure Breathing
- IT
- Instructor Trainer (one who trains instructors)
- IV
- IntraVenous
- IVPB
- IntraVenous Piggy Back
- IVT
- IntraVenous Technician (Another Maryland ideosyncracy)
- JAMA
- Journal of the American Medical Association
- JEMS
- Journal of Emergency Medical Services
- Johnnie
- Member of St. John Ambulance Association
- JOL
- Jaws of Life
- KED
- Kendrick Extrication Device
- KVO
- Keep Veins Open
- KY
- Kentucky (US state)
- LAS
- Lights And Siren
- LCON
- Local Controller (SES) (Australia)
- LDH
- Large Diameter Hose
- LE
- Law Enforcement
- LE
- Lower Extremities
- LEL
- Lower Explosive Limit (Hazmat)
- LEMC
- Local Emergency Management Committee (Australia)
- LEMO
- Local Emergency Management Officer (Australia)
- LEO
- Law Enforcement Officer
- LHQ
- Local Headquarters (SES Australia)
- LMP
- Last Menstrual Period
- LOC
- Level of Consciousness (in Glasgow scale)
- LOL
- Little Old Lady (affectionate)
- LPG
- Liquified Petroleum Gas
- LPM
- Litres Per Minute (oxygen)
- LPN
- Licensed Practical Nurse
- LR
- Lactated Ringers (IV solution)
- LZ
- Landing Zone (aeromedical)
- MA
- Massachussets (US state)
- MAC
- Medical Advisory Committee (MD's who approve ALS Standing Orders)
- MAE
- Moves All Extremities
- MAS
- Melbourne Ambulance Service (Australia)
- MAST
- Metro Arson Strike Team
- MAST
- Military Anti Shock Trousers
- MB
- Manitoba (province) (Canada)
- MBChB
- Medical Doctor (S.A. and most British ex-colonies)
- MCA
- Motor Car Accident (Australia)
- MCI
- Mass Casualty Incident
- MD
- Maryland (US state)
- MD
- Medical Doctor
- MDT
- Mobile Data Terminal(s)
- MELREF
- Melways Map Reference (Melbourne Australia)
- MERO
- Municipal Emergency Resource Officer (Australia)
- MERV
- Medical Emergency Response Vehicle
- MERV
- Medical Emergency Room Vehicle
- MH
- Marshall Islands (US)
- MHz
- MegaHertz, unit of frequency
- MI
- Myocardial Infarction
- MICA
- Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance
- MICN
- Mobile Intensive Care Nurse
- MICP
- Mobile Intensive Care Paramedic
- MICT
- Mobile Intensive Care Technician
- MICU
- Mobile Intensive Care Unit
- MMed
- Medical Specialist (S.A.)
- MMFB
- Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade (Australia)
- MN
- Minnesota
- MO
- Mental Observation (psych pt)
- MO
- Missouri
- MOE
- Ministry of the Environment (Ontario, Canada)
- MOH
- Ministry of Health
- MOI
- Mechanism Of Injury
- MP
- Northern Mariana Islands (US)
- MRI
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- MS
- Morphine Sulfate
- MSDS
- Material Safety Data Sheet
- MVA
- Motor Vehicle Accident
- NAD
- No Acute (Apparant) Distress (Interchangable)
- NAD
- No Apparent Distress
- NAEMT
- National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (US)
- NASAR
- National Association for Search and Rescue
- NC
- Nasal Cannula
- NCEMSF
- National Collegiate Emergency Medical Service Foundation
- NCRC
- National Cave Rescue Commission
- NDipAET
- National Dipl. Ambulance and Emergency Tech (ZA, level 8 = paramedic)
- N.DipEC
- National Diploma in Emerg. Care (Paramedic, S.A., Natal and Transvaal)
- NDMS
- National Disaster Medical System (US)
- NDO
- National Disasters Organisation (Australia)
- NENA
- National Emergency Number Association (9-1-1)
- NERT
- Nuclear Emergency Response Team (Canada)
- NEST
- Nuclear Emergency Search Team (USA)
- NF
- Newfoundland (province) (Canada)
- NFA
- National Fire Academy (US)
- NFIC
- National Fire Information Center
- NFIRS
- National Fire Incident Reporting System
- NFPA
- National Fire Protection Association
- NFPA
- National Flight Paramedic Association
- NIOSH
- National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (US)
- NJ
- New Jersey (US state)
- NKDA
- No Known Drug Allergies
- NLM
- National Library of Medicine (US)
- NP
- Nurse Practictioner
- NP
- Nurse Practitioner
- NPO
- Nil Per Os (Nil per mouth)
- NPR
- National Public Radio (US Government)
- NPWS
- National Parks and Wildlife Service (Australia)
- NR
- National Registry
- NRB
- Non-ReBreathing (mask)
- NREMT
- National Registry Emergency Medical Technician test (US)
- NREMT
- Nationally Registered EMT (US) REMT is preferred
- NRFM
- Non-Rebreathing Face Mask
- NS
- Normal Saline
- NS
- Nova Scotia (province) (Canada)
- NSRI
- National Sea Rescue Institute (S.A. volunteer sea rescue)
- NSW
- New South Wales (Australia)
- NSW
- New South Wales (state) (Australia)
- NSWSES
- New South Wales State Emergency Service (Australia)
- NT
- Northern Teritory (Australia)
- NT
- Northwest Territories (territory) (Canada)
- NTES
- Northern Territory Emergency Service (Australia)
- NTG
- NiTroGylcerin (?)
- NTSB
- National Transportation Safety Board (US)
- NVFC
- National Volunteer Fire Council
- NVOAD
- National Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters
- NWT
- NorthWest Territories (territory) (Canada)
- NY
- New York (US state and city)
- NYC
- New York City
- NYS
- New York State (US state)
- O2
- Oxygen
- OD
- Overdose
- OEM
- Office of Emergency Management
- OEMS
- Office of Emergency Medical Services
- OHSA
- Occupational Health and Safety Act (Ontario)
- OK
- Oklahoma (US state)
- ON
- Ontario (province) (Canada)
- OPCS
- Organization de la Patrouille Canadienne de Ski
- OR
- Oregon (US state)
- OSHA
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (USA)
- O-sign
- unresponsive person with mouth open and tongue still in mouth
- PA
- Pennsylvania (US state)
- PA
- Physician Assistant
- PA-C
- Physician Assistant-Certified (there are UNcertified PAs??)
- PADI
- Professional Association of Diving Instructors
- PALS
- Pediatric Advanced Life Support
- PAR
- Personnel Accountability Report
- PAS
- Personnel Accountability System
- PASG
- Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garment
- PASS
- Personal Alert Safety System
- PAT
- Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia
- PAT
- Personnel Accountability Tag
- PCR
- Patient Care Record/Report
- PD
- Police Department
- PDA
- Property Damage Accident (MVA w/out injuries)
- PE
- Prince Edward Island (province) (Canada)
- PEA
- Pulseless Electrical Activity (cardiac)
- PEARL
- Pupils Equal And Reactive to Light (discouraged)
- PEC
- Prehospital Emerg Care (S.A.Red Cross bridging course to ECA)
- PEI
- Prince Edward Island (province) (Canada)
- PERL
- Pupils Equal and Reactive to Light
- PERLA
- Pupils Equal and Reactive to Light and Accomodation
- PERRL
- Pupils Equal, Round, and Reactive to Light
- PERRLA
- Pupils Equal, Round, and Reactive to Light and Accomodation
- PERS
- Public Emergency Reporting System (911)
- PET
- Positron Emission Tomography
- PFO
- Pissed (drunk) and Fell Over (from Australia)
- PHTLS
- Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support
- PIA
- Personal Injury Accident (MVA involving injuries)
- PID
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- PIO
- Public Information Officer
- PND
- Paroxysmal Nocturnal Dyspnea
- PO
- Peace Officer
- POQ
- "Piss off quick!!!!" (Get out of a dangerous situation) (Australia)
- POST
- Peace Officer Standards of Training
- POV
- Privately Owned Vehicle
- PPE
- Personal Protective Equipment
- PR
- Public Relations
- PR
- Puerto Rico (US)
- PSAP
- Public Safety Answering Point (911)
- PT
- Patient
- PVC
- Premature Ventricular Contraction
- PW
- Pressurized Water fire extinguisher
- QC
- Quality Control
- QC
- Quebec (province) (Canada)
- QC
- Quick Connect
- QLD
- Queensland (Australia) (state)
- QR
- Quick Release
- QRS
- ? "I run with a campus QRS..."
- QRT
- Quick Response Team
- QSES
- Queensland State Emergency Service (Australia)
- Q-sign
- unresponsive person with mouth open and tongue hanging out
- RACES
- Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services - amateur radio in EMA
- RAPID
- Railroad Accident Prevention and Immediate Deployment (CA US) (hazmat)
- RAR
- Road Accident Rescue (Australia)
- RCRA
- Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (US) (hazmat)
- REMT
- Registered EMT (NREMT)
- RERB
- Remote Emergency Reporting Bureau (911)
- RFDS
- Royal Flying Doctor Service (Australia)
- RFS
- Rural Fire Service
- RL
- Ringers Lactate (IV solution)
- RLAS
- Red Lights And Sirens
- RLS
- Red Lights 'n' Sirens
- RLSSC
- Royal Life Saving Society Canada
- RM
- Rescue Medic (South Africa)
- RMA
- Refuse[s] Medical Assistance
- RN
- Registered Nurse
- RNA
- Registered Nursing Assistant
- RNLI
- Royal National Lifeboat Institution (U.K.)
- RO
- Radio Officer
- ROT
- Rule Of Thumb
- RP
- Reporting Party
- RQ
- Reportable Quantity (hazmat)
- RS
- Rescue Squad
- RSD
- Reflex Sympathetic Disorder
- RSI
- Rapid Sequence Induction
- RT
- Respiratory Therapist
- RTA
- Road Traffic Accident (seen from UK)
- Rx
- Prescription
- SA
- South Australia (state)
- SABA
- Supplied Air Breathing Apparatus
- SAED
- SemiAutomatic External Defibrillator
- SAR
- Search And Rescue
- SASES
- South Australia State Emergency Service (Australia)
- SC
- South Carolina (US state)
- SCAT
- Special Casualty Access Team (Australia)
- SCBA
- Self Contained Breathing Apparatus
- SCUBA
- Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus
- SES
- State Emergency Service (Australia)
- SES
- State Emergency Services
- SFM
- Simple Face Mask
- SIDS
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
- SITREP
- Situation Report
- SK
- Saskatchewan (province) (Canada)
- SLASA
- Surf Life-saving Association of South Africa
- SLUD
- Salivation, Lacrimation, Urination, Defecation (pesticide poisoning)
- Smokie
- Firefighter (Australia)
- SOB
- Shortness Of Breath
- SOG
- Special Operations Group (VICPOL) (Australia)
- SOG
- Standard Operating Guidelines
- SOP
- Standard Operating Procedure
- SSM
- System Status Management
- Sx
- Symptoms/Signs
- TA
- Traffic Accident
- TAS
- Tasmania (Australia)
- TB
- Tuberculosis
- TBF
- Total Body Failure
- TC
- Traffic Collisions (preferred to TA by POST)
- TDG
- Transport of Dangerous Goods
- TIA
- Technical Interim Amendment (NFPA)
- TIA
- Transient Ischemic Attack (mini-stroke)
- TKO
- To Keep Open
- TMB
- Too Many Birthdays
- TMU-A
- Technicien Medical d'Urgence - Ambulance
- TOG
- Traffic Operations Group (VICPOL) (Australia)
- TOP
- Topically
- TPQ
- Threshold Planning Quanity (hazmat)
- TPR
- Temperature, Pulse, Respirations
- TRO
- Time Ran Out
- TSCA
- Toxic Substance Control Act (US) (hazmat)
- TSES
- Tasmainian State Emergency Service (Australia)
- Tx
- Treatment
- Txp
- Transport
- UCR
- Uniform Crime Reporting (system)
- UEL
- Upper Explosive Limit (hazmat)
- UHF
- Ultra High Frequency (radio)
- US
- United States
- USA
- United States of America
- USAF
- United States Air Force
- USFS
- United States Forest Service
- USLA
- United States Lifesaving Association
- UT
- Utah (US state)
- VA
- Veteran's Administration (US Government)
- VA
- Virginia (US state)
- VAC
- Volunteer Ambulance Corps
- VAD
- Voluntary Aid Detachment (Red Cross) (Australia)
- VASC
- Voluntary Aid Service Corps (Red Cross) (Australia)
- VAVRS
- Virginia Association of Volunteer Rescue Squads
- VDT
- Video Display Terminal
- VF
- Ventricular Fibrilation
- VFD
- Volunteer Fire Department
- V-fib
- Ventricular Fibrilation
- VHF
- Very High Frequency (radio)
- VHQ
- Victorian State Headquarters (SES Australia)
- VI
- Virgin Islands (US)
- VIC
- Victoria (Australia) (state)
- VICPOL
- Victoria Police (Australia)
- VICSES
- Victoria State Emergency Service (Australia)
- VPB
- Ventricular Premature Beat
- VPC
- Ventricular Premature Contraction
- VRA
- Voluntary Rescue Association (Australia)
- VRS
- Volunteer Rescue Squad
- VRT
- Vertical Rescue Technician (Australia)
- VSA
- Vital Signs Absent
- WA
- Western Australia (state)
- WA
- Washington (US state)
- WAFBB
- WA Fire Brigades Board
- WASES
- Western Australia State Emergency Service (Australia)
- WD
- Warm/Dry
- WEMT
- Wilderness EMT
- WFS
- Women in the Fire Service, Inc.
- WHMIS
- Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (hazmat) (Ontario)
- WPD
- Warm, Pink, Dry (skin signs)
- WTC
- World Trade Center
- WV
- West Virginia (US state)
- WWW
- World Wide Web (INTERNET)
- YMMV
- Your Mileage May Vary (INTERNET)
- Y/O
- year-old
- YT
- Yukon (territory) (Canada)
- ZA
- South Africa (INTERNET domain)
Unofficial Acronyms
OK... here are the acronyms you shouldn't use on your PCR's:
- BOHICA
- Bend Over Here It Comes Again ;)
- BTFOM
- Beats The F* Outta Me
- BTHFOM
- Beats The Hairy F* Outta Me
- BWS
- Beached Whale Syndrome
- CCFCCP
- Coo Coo For CoaCoa Puffs
- CHAOS
- Chief Has Arrived On Scene
- CPR
- Come Put-em-ta Rest
- CRS
- Can't Remember Shit
- CTD
- Circling The Drain (see: Close To Death)
- CYA
- Cover Your Ass
- DFU
- Done F**ked Up
- DIN
- Dispatcher Is (going) Nuts - too many alarms
- DICCOMNAVAB
- Dictionary of Common Naval Abreviations (US Navy)
- DRT
- Dead Right There
- DRTTTT
- Dead Right There, There, There, and There
(used after pedestrian/train altercations)
- FD
- Fu**ing Drunk
- FDGB
- Fall Down Go Boom
- FIBD
- Found In Bed Dead
- FORD
- Found On Road Dead
- FUBAR
- Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition
- GOMA
- Get Out of My Ambulance
- GSH
- Giant Sweat Hog
- HIF
- Hysterical Italian Family (Can be interchangable)
- IBM
- Incredible Barfing Man
- IDM
- it don't matter
- IJADAD
- I'm Just A Dumb Ambulance Driver
(Used in court after a bad call, "I was driving, I didn't even
touch the pt")
- JFA
- Jive Funk Attack or Just F**king Around
- LASGLH
- Lights And Sirens, Go Like Hell
- MAGGOT
- Medically Able, Go Get Other Transportation
- NTID
- Non Traumatic Injury, Dumbass!
- PD
- Pretty Drunk
- PFO
- Pissed and Fell Over
- PGD
- Pissed and Got Dumped
- PIM
- Patient Is Mangled
- PITA
- Pain In The Ass
- PST
- Positive Samsonite Tendencies, as in the pt. greets you at the door
with suitcase in hand
- PUHA
- Pick Up, Haul ASS!
- SHPOS
- Sub Human Piece Of Shit
- SNAFU
- Situation Normal, All Fucked Up.
- SOL
- Shit Outta Luck