Paramedic Mnemonics and Memory Aids

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The Geeky Medics list of paramedic mnemonics has been curated to help you remember important paramedic concepts and facts.

Our list of paramedic mnemonics includes patient assessment, resuscitation and communication.

For basic sciences, see the Geeky Medics list of anatomy mnemonics. We also have a list of general medical mnemonics.

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Patient assessment

Primary survey: DRc ABCDE

Danger
Response
Catastrophic haemorrhage

Airway
Breathing
Circulation
Disability
Expose/examine/environment

See our ABCDE guide for more details.

Stroke: BEFAST

Balance
Eyes
Face
Arms
Speech
Time (critical)

See our stroke article for more details.

Respiratory/chest assessment: TWELVE FLAPS

Tracheal deviation
Wounds and bleeding
Surgical emphysema
Laryngeal crepitus/injury
Distended neck veins
Expose and examine the chest

Feel
Look
Auscultate
Percuss
Search back and sides

History taking: SAMPLE

Signs and symptoms
Allergies
Medication
Past medical history
Last oral intake
Events leading up to presentation/injury

Past medical history: JAMTHREADS

Paediatric assessment triangle: ABC

Appearance
Work of breathing
Circulation

Newborn assessment: APGAR

Appearance
Pulse
Grimace
Activity
Respirations

See our newborn life support (NLS) guide for more details.

Pain: SOCRATES

Site
Onset
Character
Radiation
Associated signs & symptoms
Timing
Exacerbation or relief
Severity

See our SOCRATES guide for more details.

Pain: OPQRST

Onset
Provocation
Quality
Radiates
Severity
Timing

Level of consciousness: ACVPU

Alert
Confusion (new)
Voice
Pain
Unresponsive

See our ACVPU guide for more information.

Resuscitation

Reversible causes: 4 Hs and 4 Ts

Hypoxia
Hypovolaemia
Hypokalaemia/hyperkalaemia (and other electrolyte disorders)
Hypothermia/hyperthermia
Tamponade
Tension pneumothorax
Toxins
Thrombosis

See our reversible causes of cardiac arrest guide for more details.

Traumatic cardiac arrest: HOTT

Hypovolaemia
Oxygenation
Tension pneumothorax
Tamponade

Communication

Information exchange: ASHICE

Age
Sex
History
Injuries/illness
Condition
Estimated time of arrival (ETA)

See our prehospital communication guide for more details.

Information exchange: ATMISTER

Age
Time of incident
Mechanism of injury
Injuries/illness
Signs and symptoms
Treatment given
Estimated time of arrival
Special requirements

See our prehospital communication guide for more details.

Information exchange: SBAR

Situation
Background
Assessment
Recommendations

See our SBAR guide for more details.

Information exchange: IMIST-AMBO

Identification of patient
Mechanism of injury or medical complaint
Injuries or information related to the complaint
Signs (observations)
Treatment or trends

Pause for questions

Allergies
Medications
Background
Other information

See our prehospital communication guide for more details.

Documentation structure: medical model

PC: Presenting complaint
HPC: History of presenting complaint
PMHx: Previous medical history
PSHx: Previous surgical history
Allergies
DHx: Drug history
SHx: Social history: care / home setup (including layout of house), smoking, alcohol
FHx: Family history
ROS: Review of systems (neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, genitourinary, musculoskeletal, integumentary)
IMP: Impression
Plan: Treatment plan