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Emergency Medicine & First Aid vocabulary · Emergency Assessment (ABC)

GCS

Meaning in emergency medicine & first aid, with examples

/ˌdʒiː siː ˈes/abbreviationCommon term

In emergency medicine & first aid, GCS means: Short for Glasgow Coma Scale: a score from 3 to 15 for level of consciousness, based on how a patient opens their eyes, speaks and moves.

In Turkish: GKS, Glasgow Koma Skalası

How it is used

Said letter by letter. Staff report the total and the parts, for example 'GCS 13: E3 V4 M6'. A falling GCS is an important warning sign. GCS 15 means fully alert and oriented; the lowest possible score is 3, not zero.

Example sentences

  1. GCS was 14 on scene, now it's 11.

  2. He's confused, so his GCS is 14 with a verbal score of 4.

Common collocations

  • GCS score
  • drop in GCS
  • GCS of 15
  • record the GCS
  • AVPUA quick scale for level of consciousness: the patient is Alert, responds to Voice, responds to Pain, or is Unresponsive.
  • head injuryAny injury to the scalp, skull or brain, from a minor bump to a serious brain injury with bleeding or swelling inside the skull.
  • unconsciousNot awake and not aware of what is happening, so that the person cannot respond normally to voices or touch.
  • vital signsThe basic measurements that show how the body is coping, usually pulse, breathing rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, temperature and level of consciousness.

More terms: Emergency Assessment (ABC)

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.