>Acronyms used in this travel medical guide and in other medical situations.These are among the acronyms and abbreviations that you may encounter in this guide, as well as in other publications regarding travelers' health. See the Glossary for definitions of these and other terms.
>ACLS: advanced cardiac life support >AED: automated external defibrillator >AGE: arterial gas embolism >AIDS: acquired immune deficiency syndrome >ATA: atmospheres absolute >BC/BCD: buoyancy compensator/buoyancy control device >BLS: basic life support >CAGE: cerebral arterial gas embolism >CDC: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) >CNS: central nervous system >CPR: cardiopulmonary resuscitation >DAN: Divers Alert Network >DCI: decompression illness >DCS: decompression sickness >DEET: N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (an insect repellent) >DVT: deep vein thrombosis >EAN: enriched-air nitrox >EMS: emergency medical services >ENT: ear, nose and throat >FROPV: flow-restricted oxygen-powered ventilator >fsw: feet of sea water >GMT: Greenwich Mean Time >HAV: hepatitis A virus >HELP: heat-escape-lessening position >HIV: human immunodeficiency virus >IDDM: insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus >Lpm: liters per minute >msw: meters of sea water >NOAA: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (U.S.) >OE: otitis externa >OHA: oral hypoglycemic agents >OM: otitis media >ORS: oral rehydrating solution >OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration (U.S.) >OTC: over the counter (a nonprescription drug) >PFSI: preflight surface interval >PPD: purified protein derivative (a tuberculosis skin test) >TB: tuberculosis >TD: traveler's diarrhea >UBA: underwater breathing apparatus >UHMS: Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society >WHO: World Health Organization