Injuries Acronym Put Injured Treating People Remember Medical

Many people have memorized "acronyms" (words made from the first letter of each word in a longer phrase) to help them remember how to "treat" (provide care for) injuries until they can "seek" (obtain) proper medical attention. For example, the main acronym for treating injuries is P.R.I.C.E. This acronym is used to remember the way to reduce bleeding and pain, but it does not focus on fixing the actual problem, which would be the responsibility of a doctor.

P - "Protect" (don't allow additional injuries to occur)

R - Rest

I - "Ice" (put ice on or against the injured part)

C - "Compress" (put pressure on the injured part)

E - "Elevate" (raise up above the heart)

S - "Stabilize" (put in a position and do not let it move)

People who are studying "Cardiopulmonary resuscitation" (CPR; techniques to help someone who is not breathing) memorize the acronym A.B.C.:

A - Airway

B - Breathing

C - Circulation

The A.B.C. acronym reminds "first aid providers" (people who provide emergency medical care) to first "clear" (remove any objects that might be blocking) the "airway" (the passage in one's neck or throat that allows air to move from one's nose to the lungs). They might do this by "tilting" (changing the angle of) the neck to open the airway, or by using the "Heimlich maneuver" to apply force to the individual's "abdomen" (stomach area) to push out any object or piece of food that might be causing the person to "choke" (not be able to breathe). Then they need to check to see whether the injured individual is breathing. Finally, they check for "circulation" (a heartbeat and the movement of blood throughout the body).