First Aid Glossary of Terms

1. First Aid Essentials Slideshow Pictures
2. First Aid Bandaging Injuries Slideshow Pictures
3. First Aid Sprains & Strains Slideshow Pictures

Acetaminophen: A nonaspirin pain reliever or analgesic. Acetaminophen may be given alone t...

Airway: The path that air follows to get into and out of the lungs. The mouth and nose are...

Anesthetic: A substance that causes lack of feeling or awareness, dulling pain to permit s...

Antibiotic: A drug used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other microorganisms. ...

Aspirin: Once the Bayer trademark for acetylsalicylic acid, now the common name for this a...

Asthma: A common lung disorder in which inflammation causes the bronchi to swell and narro...

Automated external defibrillator: A device that automatically analyzes the heart rhythm an...

Blood pressure: The blood pressure is the pressure of the blood within the arteries. It is...

Blood sugar: Blood glucose. See also: High blood sugar; Low blood sugar.

Breathing: The process of respiration, during which air is inhaled into the lungs through ...

Calamine: An astringent made from zinc carbonate or zinc oxide, customarily used in lotion...

Carbon monoxide poisoning: A potentially deadly condition caused by breathing carbon monox...

Cardiac: Having to do with the heart.

Cardiopulmonary: Having to do with both the heart and lungs.

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation: A life-saving emergency procedure that involves breathing f...

CDC: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US agency charged with tracking a...

Cell: The basic structural and functional unit of any living thing. Each cell is a small c...

Chest: The area of the body located between the neck and the abdomen. The chest contains t...

Chest pain: Pain in the chest that can be a result of many things, including angina, heart...

CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Cuts: Severed skin. Washing a cut or scrape with soap and water and keeping it clean and d...

Decongestant: A drug that shrinks the swollen membranes in the nose, making it easier for ...

Defibrillator: A device that corrects an abnormal heart rhythm by delivering electrical sh...

Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell...

Emergency code: While there is no formal definition for a "Code," doctors often use the te...

Emergency department: The department of a hospital responsible for the provision of medica...

FEMA: A name well known to people in the US who have experienced a major natural or made-m...

Flush: (1) A redness of the skin, typically over the cheeks or neck. A flush is usually ...

Glucose: The simple sugar that is the chief source of energy. Glucose is found in the bloo...

Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from veins into arteries throughout the body. ...

Heart attack: The death of heart muscle due to the loss of blood supply. The loss of bloo...

Hygiene: The science of preventive medicine and the preservation of health. Also commonly ...

Hypoglycemic: Relating to hypoglycemia, an abnormally low level of the sugar glucose in th...

Ibuprofen: A nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that is commonly used to treat pa...

Injury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot...

Insulin: A natural hormone made by the pancreas that controls the level of the sugar gluco...

Laboratory: A place for doing tests and research procedures, and for preparing chemicals a...

Laxative: Something that promotes emptying of the bowels. Laxatives are used to combat con...

Lethal: Deadly.

Lightheadedness: A feeling you are "going to faint." Lightheadedness is medically distinc...

Lubricant: An oily or slippery substance. A vaginal lubricant may be helpful for women who...

Nausea: Stomach queasiness, the urge to vomit. Nausea can be brought on by many causes, in...

Nurse: 1) A person trained, licensed, or skilled in nursing. 2) To feed an infant at the ...

Ointment: An oil-based preparation that is applied to the skin. Whereas an ointment has an...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Pediatric: Pertaining to children.

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

Poison: Any substance that can cause severe organ damage or death if ingested, breathed in...

Poison control center: A special information center set up to inform people about how to r...

Poisoning: Taking a substance that is injurious to health or can cause death. Poisoning i...

Prescription: A physician's order for the preparation and administration of a drug or dev...

Primary care: A patient's main source for regular medical care, ideally providing continui...

Pulse: The rhythmic dilation of an artery that results from beating of the heart. Pulse is...

Resuscitation: The procedure of restoring to life, as in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CP...

Sleep: The body's rest cycle.

Sore: 1. (adjective) A popular term for painful, such as a sore throat. 2. (...

Spinal cord: The major column of nerve tissue that is connected to the brain and lies with...

Spinal cord injury: Trauma or damage to the spinal cord, the major column of nerve tissue ...

Stroke: The sudden death of brain cells due to lack of oxygen, caused by blockage of blood...

Thermometer: A device used to measure the temperature of gaseous, liquid or solid matter ...

Tooth: One of the structures within the mouth that allow for biting and chewing. Teeth hav...

Trauma: A physical or emotional injury.

Tylenol: See: Acetaminophen.

Unconscious: 1. Interruption of awareness of oneself and one's surroundings, lack ...

Urinary: Having to do with the function or anatomy of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, or ur...

Urinary tract: The organs of the body that produce, store, and discharge urine. These orga...

X-ray: High-energy radiation with waves shorter than those of visible light. X-ray is used...