Color-Coded Safety Glossary

First Aid/CPR - Health/Well-being - Home and Workplace Safety - Lifeguarding/Water Safety - Swimming/Aquatics

A-B     C-D     E-F     G-H     I-J     K-L     M-N     O-P    Q-R     S-T     U-V     W-X-Y-Z

I

ICD

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (also called an automated internal defibrillator).

ICS

Incident command system.

IDLH

Immediately dangerous to life and health.

illness

A broad term that includes all diseases, sicknesses, and disorders. In a first aid context, an illness is an acute condition not caused by trauma, but rather by an invading pathogen or a malfunction of a body system or function.

immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH)

An atmospheric concentration of any toxic, corrosive, or asphyxiant substance that poses an immediate threat to life, would cause irreversible or delayed adverse health effects or would interfere with an individual’s ability to escape from a dangerous atmosphere.

immobilize

To keep an injured body part from moving by using splints or bandages.

immune system

The body’s defense against infectious organisms, consisting of special cells (in particular, white blood cells), proteins (antibodies), tissues, and organs. Humans can have three types of immunity against infection: innate, adaptive, and passive. Everyone is born with innate immunity, which includes a general protection against infections and external barriers to keep infections like the skin and mucous membranes. Adaptive (or active) immunity develops throughout our lives and involves white blood cells and antibodies. Adaptive immunity is also developed when we receive vaccinations. Passive immunity is borrowed from an external source and lasts for a short time. The best example of passive immunity is that given to babies who receive antibodies in mother’s milk.

To learn more about the immune system, check out Immune System 101 by Aids.gov and Your Immune System by the CDC.

impaled object

A piercing or penetrating weapon, implement, etc., embedded in the wound. In most cases, impaled objects should not be removed by first aid providers, but rather stabilized in place to be examined and removed by a physician.

implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)

A device like a pacemaker that is implanted to detect and treat heart arrhythmias. When the ICD detects a dangerous arrhythmia, it delivers electrical shocks to restore a normal heartbeat. John Hopkins Medicine explains the differences between an ICD and a pacemaker.

implied consent

Legal concept that assumes an unconscious or confused person would consent to receive emergency care if he or she were physically able to do so.

incident

An event, with known casual factors, leading to injury or illness.

incident command system

A standardized, on-scene emergency management approach that facilitates the integration of facilities, equipment, personnel, communications, and policies/procedures within a common organizational structure which enables a coordinated response among various jurisdictions and functional agencies and common processes for managing and deploying resources.

incident report

A form filled out to record the objective details of an injury, medical condition, or other emergency or unusual happenings, including civil disturbances, theft, loss, etc.. Sometimes this report is known as an accident report and focuses on emergencies that involve injury or illness.

For sample incident reports, follow these links:

• How to Write a Good Accident or Incident Report (EHS Safety News America)
• Incident Report Form (Marion Technical College)
• Incident Report Form (Medical Assistance Transport Program of PA)

incidental disclosure

An unintentional divulgence of confidential information that cannot be prevented through reasonable safeguards.

General privacy principles founded in state law and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Privacy Rules are not intended to prohibit the treatment team from talking to each other and/or to their patients. Others outside the treatment team may be in the general area during these discussions and may overhear information that they do not need to know. While reasonable precautions should be used to avoid sharing patient information with those not involved in the patient’s care, it is possible that minor amounts of patient information may be disclosed to people near where patient care is delivered or being coordinated.  When this happens, it is considered an incidental disclosure.

Privacy principles do not prohibit an incidental disclosure of patient information so long as reasonable safeguards are taken to minimize the disclosure.  What is reasonable depends on the situation.

For example, in an emergency the need to provide quality care may necessitate loud communications.  On the other hand, in a nonemergent situation, discussing a patient’s condition in front of other patients, visitors, or family members in a hallway is not appropriate.  The key is balancing the objectives of safeguarding confidentiality while engaging in communications for effective and high-quality health care.

Reasonable safeguards include:

• Avoiding conversations about a patient in front of others, including bystanders, family members, insurance agents, reporters, etc.
• Lowering voices when discussing patient information.
• Avoiding conversations about patients in crowds or public places.

indirect contact disease transmission

The transmission of disease when a person touches objects that have the blood or body fluid of an infected person, and that infected blood or body fluid enters the body in a way that allows for infection.

industrial hygiene

A specialized area that recognizes, evaluates, and controls chronic worker exposures to harmful physical or chemical agents or conditions such as noise levels, ventilation rates, airborne contaminants, heat exposure, and radiation.

industrial safety procedures

Guidelines for implementing safety regulations and practices in industrial settings, designed to prevent accidents or acute illnesses; procedures include those for the safety of cranes, trenches, construction, electrical, confined spaces and elevators.

inflatables

Plastic toys and equipment filled with air and used as play structures in swimming pools and water parks.

injury

Harm or hurt, usually inflicted on a body by an external agent or force. Also known as trauma. When assessing the emergency scene and forming a general impression of the patient, first aid providers should try to determine whether the emergency is an injury or an illness.

injury chart

A map of a facility that shows where injuries have occurred in the past. The purpose of an injury chart is to understand injury patterns for the facility so that new policies, rules, supervision strategies, etc. can be developed to minimize these injury patterns in the future.

inspection

A periodic audit of the workplace environment, including equipment, chemicals, building structure, documented procedures, records, employee knowledge of job requirements, and hazards. Interdepartmental or external (conducted by outside agencies) inspections check for compliance with health and safety regulations.

insulin

A hormone produced in the pancreas that turns sugar and other food into energy. When you have diabetes, your body doesn’t make enough insulin or cannot use its own insulin efficiently or both.

ischemia

Reduced blood flow to an organ. Ischemia is usually caused by a constricted or blocked artery.

inverted breaststroke

A resting backstroke that uses the timing of the breaststroke (pull-kick-glide). Start in a supine position, streamlined with arms extended above your head and legs straight with toes pointed. Begin with the pull all the way down to your sides, then recover your arms along the sides of your body while doing an inverted whip kick. The kick ends as arms are fully extended over your head in the glide position. After a brief glide, repeat the pull and kick to continue stroking.

J

jaundice

A yellowish discoloration of the skin, mucous membranes, and the white of the eyes caused by elevated levels of the chemical bilirubin in the blood. Jaundice is not a disease per se, but rather a visible sign of an underlying disease process. Jaundice is typically seen when the level of bilirubin in the blood exceeds 2.5-3 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter).

Jaundice in adults can be caused by a variety of medical conditions, some of which are serious and potentially life-threatening. Any adult who develops jaundice needs to undergo a comprehensive medical evaluation to find its cause.

Infant jaundice is a common condition, particularly in babies born before 38 weeks gestation (preterm babies) and some breast-fed babies. Infant jaundice usually occurs because a baby’s liver isn’t mature enough to get rid of bilirubin in the bloodstream. In some cases, an underlying disease may cause jaundice. Most hospitals check for jaundice before discharge. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that newborns be examined for jaundice during routine medical checks and at least every eight to 12 hours while in the hospital. Babies should be examined for jaundice between the third and seventh day after birth, when bilirubin levels usually peak. If a baby is discharged earlier than 72 hours following birth, the mother should make a follow-up appointment to look for jaundice within two days of discharge.

Check out jaundice for newborns on KidsHealth. For jaundice in adults, check out the article on MedicineNet.

jaw-thrust maneuver

A technique for opening the airway of a patient with a suspected spinal injury by lifting the lower jaw instead of tilting the head back.

To perform the jaw-thrust maneuver, position yourself behind the patient’s head and to one side. Place a resuscitation mask or other breathing barrier over the patient’s mouth and nose, if available. Then place hands on the resuscitation mask or patient’s face so that the thumbs press down on the cheeks and the index fingers press up from the base of the lower jaw. The downward pressure of the thumbs and the upward press of the index fingers should lift the lower jaw to open the airway. Give rescue breaths while holding the lower jaw in this position.

 

jellyfish

A sea creature with a nearly transparent body and long tentacles with stinging cells for catching food and defense. Also called sea jellies. Certain jellyfish can cause serious harm to human beings.

jellyfish sting

A wound caused by venom injected from microscopic stinging cells (cnidoocysts) found on the tentacles of most jellyfish, sea anemones, etc. Within the cnidocysts are stinging organelles called nematocysts, which consist of a coiled thread and a barb. The nematocysts are triggered when tentacles come in contact with something other than the jellyfish itself. The nematocysts deploy in milliseconds and release toxins upon piercing the prey (or human), stunning or killing the recipient. To see how nematocysts are deployed, go to Smarter Every Day (a really cool YouTube channel).

The signs and symptoms of jellyfish stings include:

• Burning, prickling, stinging pain
• Red, brown, or purple welts on the skin
• Itching
• Swelling

Some jellyfish stings can cause severe injury to humans, affecting two or more body systems or the whole body. Signs and symptoms of severe jellyfish stings include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Headaches
• Fever
• Muscle aches and joint pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Loss of consciousness

To care for jellyfish stings:

1. Remove the tentacles by flushing the area with seawater. Do not use fresh water, a towel, or sand to try to remove tentacles as these actions can cause more stinging cells to fire.
2. Once tentacles are removed, immerse the affected area in hot, nonscalding water for about 20 minutes or until the pain subsides.
3. Monitor the patient for consciousness and breathing. Give CPR is the patient losses consciousness and stops breathing.
4. Call 911 or the local emergency number if the patient appears to be in shock, losses consciousness, has a severe allergic reaction (rare), or shows signs of a severe reaction.
5. After the pain has subsides, apply ice to reduce swelling and further lessen pain.

Jellyfish species that can injure humans include:

• Box jellyfish (also known as the sea wasp)-Native to the warmer waters of the Pacific and Indian oceans.
• Lion’s Mane jellyfish-One of the largest jellyfish in the world with a body diameter of 3 feet (1 meter); found in colder waters of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
• Portuguese Man-O-War (also known as the blue bottle jellyfish)-Lives in warmer seas throughout the world; has a blue to purplish gas-filled bubble that keeps it afloat and acts as a sail. 

• 

  

  Sea nettle-Common in both cold and warm waters of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans; different varieties can be found along the east and west coasts of the United States.

JHA

Job hazard analysis.

job

The sum of all tasks carried out by a person to complete some goal or to do some work.

job design

Planning a job and establishing procedures for job performance so the potential for injury and illness is reduced.

job hazard analysis (JHA)

A step-by-step method of identifying the hazards associated with a particular task or job.

job safety analysis (JSA)

An evaluation of a job or task that breaks down the job into its components and identifies hazards and risks of each component. This is similar to the job hazard analysis.

jock itch

An infection in the skin of the genitals, inner thighs, and buttocks. According to Medicinenet.com, roughly half of jock itch is due to fungus. The remainder is caused by moisture, irritation, and bacterial overgrowth. The fungal infection is called tinea cruris.

To care for jock itch, wash the area twice daily with antibacterial soap or antifungal shampoo and then dry it thoroughly. Keep the area dry between washings and wear 100% cotton underwear. Use to topical antibacterial or antifungal ointment twice daily. Jock itch may also respond to a dilute white vinegar solution (1 part vinegar to 4 parts water) applied daily and by adding a 1/4 cup bleach to bath water.

joint

A structure (also called an articulation) where two or more bones are joined. Several types of joints exist in the human skeleton, including ball and socket, ellipsoid, gliding plane, hinge, pivot, and saddle. The human skull is made up of bone plates with fused, immovable joints.

When caring for broken bones, it is a sound first aid principle to immobilize the joints above and below the injury. For an injured joint, it is sound to immobilize the bones above and below the injured joint.

Illustration courtesy of ASU School of Life Sciences.

JSA

Job safety analysis.

jump

A feet-first entry into the water from a deck, dock, or diving board.