These are the mnemonics I've come across as an EMT. If you know of a variation, or one I haven't posted here, please email me.

2008-01-30: Thank you to everyone who has contributed mnemonics since I first posted this list! As I look through the list, I see a glaring omission: Does anyone know of a good mnemonic for the elements of a radio report to the hospital?

These are the mnemonics I have:

On scene: ENAME, PENMAN

Patient evaluation: SOAP, CHEATED, ABCs, SAMPLE, OPQRST, PASTMED, AVPU, CMSTP, FACTS, SLUDGE, PERRLA, START & RPM

Other useful information: AEIOU-TIPS, DCAP-BLS-TIC, PCMM-HLDD, NAVEL, CHASHPN, CHAMPS RN


ENAME PENMAN
  • 2008-01-30: A checklist for first tasks on scene of a motor vehicle collision.
  • Environmental hazards
  • Number of patients
  • Additional resources
  • Mechanism of injury
  • Extrication?
  • 2008-01-30: A different checklists for first tasks at an MVC.
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Equipment needed
  • Number of injured
  • Mechanism of injury
  • Additional resources needed
  • Need for immobilization?

SOAP CHEATED
  • This is the general order for treating a patient.
  • Subjective information (What is the patient telling you?)
  • Objective information (What are your observations and tools telling you?)
  • Assessment of the patient (What do you think is happening?)
  • Plan of action (What are you going to do about it?)
  • 2008-01-30: This is a summary of a patient contact, from start to finish.
  • Chief Complaint
  • History
  • Examination
  • Assessment
  • Treatment
  • Evaluation (Did the treatment help?)
  • Disposition (What was the final outcome?)
ABC's SAMPLE
  • The ABC's are the critical steps in the Initial Assessment of a patient.
  • Airway
  • Breathing
  • Circulation
  • Deformity
  • Expose
  • Farenheit (temperature)
  • EKG, Pulse Oximetry, Vital signs
  • Head to toe exam
  • Interventions, Inspect back
  • SAMPLE is the acronym covering the details we need to get about any patient.
  • Signs & Symptoms
  • Allergies
  • Medications
  • Past pertinent history
  • Last oral intake, liquid & solid
  • Events leading to the incident
OPQRST PASTMED
  • This this is the list the mnemonic for evaluating a medical patient.
  • Onset (this event)
  • Provoke, Palpation
  • Quality
  • Region, Radiates
  • Severity
  • Time (history)
  • This is an alternate mnemonic for evaluating a patient with difficulty breathing.
  • Provoke, Progression
  • Associated Chest Pain
  • Sputum, color & amount
  • Time, Trauma
  • Medications
  • Exertion, Exercise
  • Diagnosis by physician
AVPU CMSTP
  • This is the mnemonic to establish level of responsiveness.
  • Alert
  • Verbal (Instructions are mostly followed. Answers are delayed or inappropriate.)
  • Pain (Sternal rub. Thumb web pinch.)
  • Unresponsive (Ain't gettin' nuttin'...)
  • This mnemonic is used when evaluating extremities.
  • Color
  • Motor
  • Sensory
  • Temperature
  • Pulse
FACTS SLUDGE
  • 2008-01-30: Thanks to many contributions, I can now say that this mnemonic outlines the information needed following a seizure.
  • Focus (What part of the body?)
  • Activity (Tonic? Clonic? One but not both?)
  • Color (Cyanotic?)
  • Time (How long was the episode? How much time between episodes?)
  • Somnolence (Postictal state?) or Secondary trauma (Was the seizure caused by trauma? Did the patient suffer trauma as a result of the episode?)
  • These are the symptoms of excessive stimulation of body functions due to organophosphate poisoning.
  • Salivation (Drool.)
  • Lacrimation (Tears.)
  • Urination (Piss.)
  • Defecation (Diarrhea.)
  • Gastric juices (Heartburn.)
  • Emesis (Vomiting.)
PERRLA START & RPM
  • 2008-01-30: I can't believe I never included this list for evaluating the eyes during a field exam!
  • Pupils are
  • Equal,
  • Round, and
  • Reactive to
  • Light
  • Accomodation
  • 2008-01-30: START is an acronym for a copyrighted system for triage. RPM is the list of specific actions taken in this system.
  • Simple
  • Triage
  • And
  • Rapid
  • Transport
  • &
  • Respirations
  • Perfusion
  • Mentation

AEIOU-TIPS DCAP-BLS-TIC
  • This is a list of general causes of a reduced Level of Conciousness.
  • Alcohol
  • Epilepsy
  • Insulin (Hypo/Hyperglycemia)
  • Overdose
  • Uremia
  • Trauma
  • Infarction (Cardiac or cerebral)
  • Poisoning, Psychological
  • Sepsis
  • This is a list of possible results of traumatic insult.
  • Deformity
  • Contusions
  • Abrasions
  • Punctures, Paradoxical movement
  • Burns
  • Lacerations
  • Swelling
  • Tenderness
  • Instability
  • Crepitus
PCMM-HLDD NAVEL
  • This is a list of some common drugs. 2008-01-30: Possibly a list of commonly abused drugs?
  • Percodan/Percocet
  • Codeine
  • Morphine
  • Methadone
  • Heroin
  • Lomotil
  • Darvon
  • Demerol
  • The five drugs that may be adminstered by endotracheal tube.
  • Narcan (naloxone)
  • Atropine
  • Versed (midazolam) (May be Valium (diazepam) in some areas.)
  • Epinephrine
  • Lidocaine
CHASHPN CHAMPS RN
  • The seven types of shock.
  • Cardiogenic
  • Hemmorhagic
  • Anaphalactic
  • Septic
  • Hypovolemic
  • Psychogenic
  • Neurogenic
  • 2008-01-30: An alternative list of eight types of shock.
  • Cardiogenic
  • Hemmorhagic
  • Anaphalactic
  • Metabolic
  • Psychogenic
  • Septic
  • Respiratory
  • Neurogenic