| Term | Definition |
| Protocols | Written guidelines for patient care approved by the medical director of an EMS system. |
| BSI precautions | The practice of using the appropriate barriers to infection at the emergency scene, such as gloves, masks, gowns, and protective equipment. |
| EMR | A level of EMS training designed for the person who often is the first on scene of an emergency. The emphasis is on activating the EMS system and providing immediate care for life threatening injury or illness. Requires 40 hrs of training. |
| Stress | any event or situation that places extraordinary demands on a person's mental or emotional resources. |
| Delayed stress response | Stress reactions that may not appear for days, months, or even years following an event |
| AEMT | Same as EMT with additional training to provide a minimum level of ALS such as IV's, advanced airway techniques, and administration of some medications beyond an EMT. Requires 300-400 Hrs of training. |
| Cumulative stress response | A type of stress reaction that results from the accumulation of recurring low-level stressors over many years. |
| On-line medical direction | Instructions consisting of orders from the on-duty physician or designee given directly to an EMT in the field by radio or telephone |
| Acute Stress Response | Stress reactions that are most commonly linked to sudden, unexpected catastrophic events. |
| EMS System | A highly specialized chain of resources designed to minimize the impact of sudden injury and illness on our society |
| Defusing | small-group discussion held within hours of a critical incident, designed to address acute symptoms of stress. |
| CISM (Critical incident stress management) | A comprehensive, integrated, multi component crisis intervention system composed of seven core components: pre-crisis preparation, support programs,defusing, debriefing, one-on-one, family crisis intervention, and follow up. |
| CISD (Critical incident stress debriefing) | A process held 1-10 days after a critical (highly stressful) incident in which teams of professional and peer counselors provide emotional and psychological support to EMS personnel. |
| Standard precautions | CDC guidelines and practices based on the awareness that all patients are potentially infectious. |
| EMD ( Emergency Medical Dispatcher) | Specially trained dispatchers who obtain information from caller but also provide medical instructions for emergency care. |
| EMT | A level of EMS training with emphasis on assessment and care of the ill or injured patient and in most areas is considered the minimum level of certification for ambulance personnel. Requires 110 hours of training. |
| Standing Orders | A type of protocol that allows the EMT to provide specific types of treatment or medications for specific patients. |
| Paramedic | EMS provider with more training on ALS procedures. Can do procedures such as IV lines, different Medication, interpretation of electrocardiograms, and cardiac defibrillation. |
| PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) | The agency responsible for answering 911 calls. |
| Medical Director | A physician who assumes ultimate responsibility for the patient care aspects of an EMS system. |
| Off-line medical direction | Instructions consisting of the medical director's standing orders, which allow EMTs to give certain medications or do certain procedures without speaking directly to the medical director or another physician. |
| PPE (Personal protective equipment | Equipment that protects the EMS worker from infection and exposure to the dangers of rescue operations |
| Quality Improvement (QI) | A process of continuous self-review with the purpose of identifying and correcting aspects of the system that require improvement. |
| Pathogens | Organisms that cause disease, such as viruses and bacteria |
| Medical Direction | Oversight of the patient care aspects of an EMS system by a licensed physician referred to as the medical director |
