First Aid Glossary
Abrasion: Damage to the skin through scraping or wearing away. Usually, involves minimal bleeding
Acute: A condition that comes on suddenly. Usually referred to illness which is of short duration, rapidly progressive and in need of urgent care
Adrenaline: This is a surge of sudden energy brought on by a shocking or dangerous event
Airbag: A piece of safety equipment which inflates during a vehicle collision
Airway: This is the passage in which air enters a person’s lungs
Amputation: The action of surgically removing a limb
Anaphylaxis: A life-threatening emergency because of an acute allergic reaction
Anaesthetic: This is a substance that induces insensitivity to pain
Angina: A medical term that refers to chest pain or discomfort that is caused by reduced blood flow to the heart
Antibiotics: These are drugs that are used to treat or prevent bacterial infections. These cannot be used to treat viral infections
Artery: A blood vessel that carries oxygenated blood from the heart around the body
Asprin: A drug used to treat mild or moderate pain
Asthma: A common lung condition that causes occasional breathing problems. Airways become tight and produce mucus making it very difficult to breathe
Atrium: This is the upper chamber of the heart
Avulsion: An avulsion is a soft tissue injury involving tissue being pulled away or teared
Baby: For the purpose of first aid, a baby is someone under 1-year-old
Basic Life Support: This is the level of medical care which is used for victims of life-threatening illnesses or injuries until they can be given full medical care at a hospital
Blood Pressure: This is the pressure of blood flow through the arteries. It should not be too high or too low. Blood pressure varies depending on activities, situations or stress
Blood Sugar: The concentration of glucose in the blood
Breathing: The passage of air in and out of the lungs
Get In Touch
Interested in undertaking one of our First Aid Courses in Wirral? Call us today on 0151 343 0588 to learn more. You can also email us at [email protected] and a member of our team will get back to you as soon as possible. We run regular first aid courses in Wirral and across the surrounding areas.
