Emergency Medical Responder: Chapter
13
ABCs - ANS-the patient's airway, breathing and circulation as they relate to the primary
assessment
Accessory Muscle Use - ANS-the use of the muscles of the neck, chest and abdomen
to assist with breathing efforts
AVPU scale - ANS-a memory aid for the classifications of levels of responsiveness; the
letters stand for alert, verbal, painful and unresponsive
Baseline Vital Signs - ANS-the first determination of vital signs; used to compare with all
further readings of vital signs to identify trends
Brachial Pulse - ANS-the pulse that can be felt in the medial side of the upper arm
between the elbow and shoulder
BP-DOC - ANS-a memory aid used to recall what to look for in a physical exam of a
trauma patient; the letters stand for bleeding, pain, deformities, open wounds and
crepitus
Capillary Refill - ANS-the return (refill) of blood into the capillaries after it has been
forced out by fingertip pressure; normal refill time is two secounds or less. Capillary refill
is commonly assessed in the fingertips and nail beds for adults and the feet and hands
of infants
Carotid Pulse - ANS-the carotid pulse that can be felt on either side of the neck. Palpate
only one side at a time.
Chief Complaint - ANS-the reason EMS was called, in the patient's own words
Crepitus - ANS-a grating noise or the sensation felt when broken bone ends rub
together
Dorsalis Pedis Pulse - ANS-the pulse located on the top of the foot
13
ABCs - ANS-the patient's airway, breathing and circulation as they relate to the primary
assessment
Accessory Muscle Use - ANS-the use of the muscles of the neck, chest and abdomen
to assist with breathing efforts
AVPU scale - ANS-a memory aid for the classifications of levels of responsiveness; the
letters stand for alert, verbal, painful and unresponsive
Baseline Vital Signs - ANS-the first determination of vital signs; used to compare with all
further readings of vital signs to identify trends
Brachial Pulse - ANS-the pulse that can be felt in the medial side of the upper arm
between the elbow and shoulder
BP-DOC - ANS-a memory aid used to recall what to look for in a physical exam of a
trauma patient; the letters stand for bleeding, pain, deformities, open wounds and
crepitus
Capillary Refill - ANS-the return (refill) of blood into the capillaries after it has been
forced out by fingertip pressure; normal refill time is two secounds or less. Capillary refill
is commonly assessed in the fingertips and nail beds for adults and the feet and hands
of infants
Carotid Pulse - ANS-the carotid pulse that can be felt on either side of the neck. Palpate
only one side at a time.
Chief Complaint - ANS-the reason EMS was called, in the patient's own words
Crepitus - ANS-a grating noise or the sensation felt when broken bone ends rub
together
Dorsalis Pedis Pulse - ANS-the pulse located on the top of the foot
