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NM DOH All Hazard Incident Management Glossary
Intro | A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W XYZ Sources
Download: NMDOH_IM_Glossary_May_2008 
AAR - After Action Report (detailed report of an incident or exercise)
Acceptable Risk – risk that is so small, whose consequences are so slight, or whose associated benefits (perceived or real) are so great that persons or groups in society are willing to take or be subjected to that risk.
Active Immunization – the act of artificially stimulating the body to develop antibodies against infectious disease by the administration of vaccines or toxoids; vaccination is an act, immunization is a response. (Contrast with passive immunization)
Acute – sudden onset. (Compare with chronic)
Additive Effect – a biologic response to exposure to multiple substances that equals the sum of responses of all the individual substances added together. Contrast with synergistic effect.
Adenopathy – swelling or enlargement of the lymph nodes.
Advanced Life Support Ambulance (ALS) - an ambulance service capable of delivering advanced skills performed by an EMS practitioner, e.g. intravenous fluids and drug administration.
Adverse Health Effect – any effect resulting in anatomical, functional, or psychological impairment that may affect the performance of the whole organism.
Aerosol – fine liquid or solid particles suspended in a gas or air.
AG - Attorney General (NM)
Agent – producer of an effect; a biological, chemical, or physical substance, process, product, or other entity. Exposure to an agent under specific conditions may cause adverse health effects to occur.
AIIR - Airborne Infectious Isolation Room
AICA – Alternate In-Patient Care Area
ALS – Advanced Life Support
Ambient – surrounding (for example, ambient air).
Analgesic – a compound capable of producing analgesia, i.e., one that relieves pain by altering perception of stimuli without producing anesthesia or loss of consciousness. Characterized by reduced response to painful stimuli.
Analysis – the systematic application of specific theories and methods, including those from natural science, statistics, probability theory, social science, engineering, decision science, logic, mathematics, and law, for the purpose of collecting and interpreting data and drawing conclusions about phenomena.
Anthrax – a non-contagious potentially fatal disease caused by breathing, eating, or skin contact with spores of the skin bacteria known as Bacillus anthracis.
Anticonvulsant – an agent which prevents or arrests seizures.
Antitoxin – an antibody formed in response to and capable of neutralizing a biological poison; an animal serum containing antitoxins.
AOCA – Alternative Outpatient Care Area
APIC - Association of Professionals in Infection Control
ARC - American Red Cross
ARES - Amateur Radio Emergency Services
Aseptic – free of pathogenic microorganisms.
ASPR – Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (Office of), formerly known as the Office of Public Health Preparedness. (US HHS)
Assessment – the evaluation and interpretation of measurements and other information to provide a basis for decision-making.
Ataxia – an inability to coordinate muscle activity during movement.
ATSDR - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (US HHS)
