Articles
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acquired immunodeficency syndrome (AIDS)
A blood bourne viral illness (HIV) characterized by severe impairment of the body’s immune defense system.
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activated charcoal
A substance used to absorb ingested poisons. Does not work with oils, metals (iron, lithium, lead, copper, mercury) or alcohols (ethyl, methyl, isopropal).
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Acute
Characteriezed by sharpness or severity; having rapid onset and relatively short duration
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acute
Having rapid onset, severe symptoms, and usually, short duration.
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Acute
Characteriezed by sharpness or severity; having rapid onset and relatively short duration
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acute abdomen
Irritation of the peritoneal lining. Often a surgical emergency.
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acute myocardial infarction (AMI)
Death (necrosis) of myocardial tissue caused by coronary artery occlusion.
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acute respiratory insufficiency
Any condition in which breathing is inadequate to supply oxygen to or remove carbon dioxide from body tissues. Lab
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ad lib
An abbreviation meaning "as desired".
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Adapter
Fitting for connecting hose couplings with dissimilar threads but with the same inside diameter.[1] See also #Reducer, Increaser, #Double male, #Double female. May contain combinations, such as a double-female reducer. Adapters between multiple hoses are called #Wye, #Siamese, or #Distributor, Read on! →
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Adapter
Fitting for connecting hose couplings with dissimilar threads but with the same inside diameter.
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addiction
compulsive, physical dependence fo subtance.
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adduction
Movement toward the median line of the body.
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Adjustable Flow Nozzle
Nozzle designed so that the amount of water flowing through the nozzle can be increased or decreased at the nozzle.
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adrenal gland
Small pair of glands situated on the kidneys. They produce steroid hormones such as aldosterone, androgens, glucocorticoids, progestins, estrogens. They also produce catecholamines such as epinephrine, and norepinephrine.
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Adrenalin
A trade name for epinephrine. A medication used in cardiac arrest, allergic reactions, and occasionally for asthma in the young.
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adrenergic
Referring to the sympathetic nervous system. It derives from the word Adrenalin (by the kidney).
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adsorption
Adherence of a substance onto the surface of another.
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Aerial apparatus
Fire truck, meeting National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 1901, Motor Fire Apparatus, Chapter 6 and Chapter 18, having a multi-section extending ladder, raised using power shifted from the truck’s propulsion engine. May also carry other portable ladders and tools.
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Aerial Apparatus
Fire fighting vehicle equipped with a hydraulically operated ladder or elevating platform for the purpose of placing personnel and/or water streams in elevated positions.
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Aerial canopy
Fuel type consisting of trees having few low branches, making it less susceptible to ignition by low-intensity fires.
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Aerial Device
General term used to describe the hydraulically operated ladder or elevating platform attached to a specially designed fire apparatus.
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Aerial firefighting (or Air attack)
Use of aircraft in support of ground resources to combat wildfires, often most effective in initial attack in light fuels.
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Aerial Ladder
A rotating, power-operated (usually hydraulically) ladder mounted on a self-propelled automotive fire apparatus.[1]
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Aerial Ladder
Power-operated (usually hydraulically) ladder mounted on a special truck chassis.
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Aerial Ladder Platform
A power-operated (usually hydraulically aerial device which combines an aerial ladder with a personal carrying platform supported at the end of a ladder.[1]
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Aerial Ladder Platform
Power-operated (usually hydraulically) ladder with a passenger-carrying device attached to the end of the ladder.
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Agent
Generic term used for materials that are used to extinguish fires.
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agglutination
Clumping together of red blood cells. Usually due to antibodies cross-linking RBCs together. See hemolytic reaction. (it is not clotting!)