Emergency Medicine Terminology

noun a violent shaking or jarring, especially resulting in an injury to the brain

• He suffered a concussion after falling off his bike without a helmet.
• She got a concussion from hitting her head on the door.
• I heard he got a major concussion from that car accident.
• The team's loss was like a concussion to their championship hopes.

noun a viral infection of the larynx, trachea, and bronchial tubes that is common in young children and is characterized by hoarseness, a barking cough, and difficult breathing

• The pediatrician diagnosed the child with croup, a viral infection that causes swelling in the airways.
• My baby cousin has croup and it's been keeping him up all night with that barking cough.
• I heard that nasty cough, it sounds like your kid has the croup or something.
• The croup of negativity in the office was spreading like a contagious illness, affecting everyone's mood.

noun a severe form of alcohol withdrawal characterized by confusion, tremors, hallucinations, and seizures

• The patient was admitted to the hospital with severe delirium tremens.
• He was shaking and sweating like crazy from the delirium tremens.
• The guy was going through some serious DTs from all the drinking.
• His mind was in a state of delirium tremens, unable to distinguish reality from illusion.

noun the act of thrusting a sharp or pointed object into something or someone

adjective causing sharp pain or discomfort

• The police are investigating a stabbing that occurred last night in the city center.
• Did you hear about the stabbing that happened at the park yesterday?
• I can't believe there was a stabbing at the club last weekend.
• Her words felt like a stabbing reminder of the pain she had caused.

noun a process of sorting or categorizing patients in a medical setting based on the urgency of their need for care

• The hospital uses a triage system to prioritize patients based on the severity of their condition.
• The emergency room staff will triage patients as they come in to determine who needs to be seen first.
• I heard the doctors are going to triage all the incoming cases before deciding who to treat first.
• In times of crisis, it's important to triage your tasks and focus on what needs immediate attention.

noun a hormone and neurotransmitter that is produced by the adrenal glands and is involved in the body's 'fight or flight' response

• Epinephrine is commonly used in emergency medicine to treat severe allergic reactions.
• My doctor prescribed me an epinephrine auto-injector in case I have a bad reaction to a bee sting.
• I always make sure to carry my epi-pen with me just in case I need to use some epinephrine.
• In times of extreme stress, our bodies release epinephrine to help us react quickly.

verb A word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, such as 'be taken'.

• It is not uncommon for a person's words to be taken in a bad way due to miscommunication.
• I hope my joke doesn't get taken the wrong way and be taken bad.
• I didn't mean to offend her, I didn't expect my comment to be taken bad.
• His actions were misinterpreted and be taken bad by those around him.

noun a wound or injury caused by biting

• The doctor treated the patient's fight bite with antibiotics to prevent infection.
• I heard that Jake got a fight bite from breaking up a fight at the bar last night.
• Don't mess with him, he's got a mean fight bite.
• Her sharp words felt like a fight bite, leaving him wounded emotionally.

noun a hormone secreted by the adrenal glands that helps the body respond to stress and danger

• Adrenin, also known as epinephrine, is a hormone and neurotransmitter that plays a key role in the body's fight or flight response.
• I need a shot of adrenin to get through this tough workout.
• I felt a rush of adrenin when I saw my favorite band perform live.
• Her excitement was like a surge of adrenin, propelling her to take risks and try new things.