When you and your child are in the emergency department, you may hear doctors and nurses talking about different tests and procedures that need to be done. Some of the most common terms you may encounter include the following:

• Blood pressure – the force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. Normal blood pressure measures less than 120/80. Numbers above this mean that the heart is working too hard.
• CT Scan – a computed tomography (CT) scan uses X-rays to create detailed pictures of areas inside the body. A CT scan is also known as a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan. This test is used to find out what is going on inside the body.
• IV / IV drip – intravenous, or inside the veins. Many medications are given by inserting an IV line to deliver medicine directly into the bloodstream.
• MRI – magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to create pictures of structures inside the body. MRI tests can provide information that can’t be seen on an X-ray, ultrasound, or computed tomography (CT) scan. MRI is sometimes used to find tumors, bleeding, injury, blood vessel problems or infection.
• Pulse oximeter – a machine that measures the oxygen content of blood. A small clip is put on a finger, toe or earlobe. The light beam in the clip measures the oxygen of the red blood cells moving through the cells. This device often has an alarm for blood oxygen levels that fall below a safe level..
• Triage – this word comes from the French word that means “to sort.” In the emergency department, the most seriously ill or injured patients are treated first. The triage nurse is the first medical person that people see in the emergency department.
• Ultrasound – a test that uses sound waves to create an image of organs and other structures in the body. It does not use X-rays or other types of radiation. A computer analyzes the sound waves and turns them into a picture called a sonogram, echogram, or ultrasound scan.
• Vital signs – tests of the body that include finding the patient’s temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and breathing function. These tests are used to find out how serious a person’s illness is.
• X-ray – a form of radiation that can be focused into a beam and passed through the body. When X-rays strike a piece of photographic film, they produce a picture. This test is often used to look at bones.