abbreviation             meaning

A & E                             accident and emergency

AED                               automated external defibrillator

ALS                                advanced life support system

ALSS                              advanced life support system

AOFA                            Association of First Aiders

AP                                  appointed person

APEL                              Accredited Prior Learning

AV                                  artificial ventilation

AVPU                            alert, voice, pain, unresponsive

BAA                               British Ambulance Association

BELA                              Basic Expedition Leader Award

BELA course               Basic Expedition Leaders Course - an Air Cadet Course

BLS                                 basic life support

BLS                                 basic life support

BNF                               The British National Formulary (BNF) provides UK healthcare professionals with information on the selection and clinical use of medicines

BOC                               the British Oxygen Company

BRC                                British Red Cross

BTEC                              the Business and Technology Education Council,

CAB                               Citizens Advice Bureau

Cas sim                         casualty simulation

CIEH                              The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health

CIEH                              Charted Insitute of Enviromental Health

COMAH                       Control of major accident hazards

CPD                               Continuing Personal or Professional Development

CPR                                cardio-pulmonary resuscitation

CRB check                   criminal records bureau

CSCI                               Commission for Social Care Inspection

CVA                               cerebral vascular accident (stroke)

DofE                              Duke Of Edinburgh's Awards

DPT, (sometimes DTP)                a mixture of three vaccines, to immunize against diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough) and tetanus.

Dr                                   doctor

DVT                               deep vein thrombosis (clot)

Edexcel                        BTEC, the Business and Technology Education Council, merged with the GCSE and A level awarding body, London Examinations, in 1996 to form the unitary awarding body Edexcel, and the prefix BTEC identifies the employment focus within this suite of vocational qualifications.

EFAW                            emergency first aid at work

EMT                               emergency medical technician

FA(A)W                        first aid at work

FAAM                           The "First Aid Approval and Monitoring Section" of the HSE

FAC                                First Aid Cafe

FPOS course              first person on scene

FR                                   first responders

FWC                              First Aid at work Council

GP                                  general practicioner

GTN                               glyceryl trinitrate

HCP                               health care professional

HMRC                           Her Majesty's Revinue and Customs

HMSO                           Her Majesty’s Stationery Office

HSE                                Health & Safety Executive

ICE                                 in case of emergency

IHCD                              Institute of Healthcare Development

IOM                               Institue of Occupational Medicne

IV                                   intravenous

MHFA                           mental health first aid

MHRA                           Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Agency

MI                                  myocardial infarction (heart attack)

MIU                               minor injuries unit

MOD                             Ministry of Defence

MPDS                           Medical Priority Dispatch System: system in the control centres

MRST                            a charming and knowledgeable contributor to this  forum

NGB                              national governing body

NHS                               National Health Service

NICE                              National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence

NPLQ                            national pool lifeguard qualification

NQF                               national qualifaction framework

NVQ                              National vocational qualification

Paed                             paediatric

PAS                                Private Ambulance Service

PAYE                             Pay As You-Earn is an amount collected by employers on behalf of the government from employees.

PGCE                             Post Graduate Certificate in Education

PHTLS                           Pre-hospital Trauma Life Support Course

POM                             Prescription Only Medicine

PSHE                             Personal, Social and Health Education

PTLLS                            preparing to teach in the lifelong learning sector

PTS                                patient transport service

pulse ox                       pulse oximeter

QCA                               Qualifications and Curriculun Authority

RAMC                           Royal Army Medical Corps

RCUK                            Resuscitation Council United Kingdom

RIDDOR                        Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations

RLSS                              Royal Life Saving Society

ROSC                             Return of Spontaneous Circulation (cardiac arrest brought back, usually after a shock or two)

RRV                               Rapid Response Vehicle, aka FRU (Fast Response Unit) - usually a single-staffed vehicle that provides a response to meet Government arrival targets, but usually unable to convey the patient

RTA                                Road Traffic Accident (on longer used) RTC is now preferred

RTA                                road traffic accident

RTC                                Road Traffic Collision. Now used for most vehicle collision

RTI                                 Road Traffic Incident. Used for things like cars broken down in the road, etc.

RX                                  Red Cross

SAAA                            St Andrews Ambulance Association

SIA                                 Security Industy Authority

SJA                                 Saint John Ambulance Service

SOP                               standard/standing operating procedure

SQA                               Scottish Qualification Authority

VAS                               Voluntary Aid Society

 

Steve