Glossary of WW2 US Medical Terms

Medical personnel sorting Marmite Cans containing ETO Blood at military airfield, France 1944

This article has been compiled to give an explanation to some of the terms and abbreviations which can be found on this website. All spellings and definitions appear here as they did at the time.

This list is by no means a complete one, and it is the intention that it will receive regular updates, as and when new definitions or abbreviations can be found. If there are any abbreviations with "??" characters in the description column, this means that the definition is either unknown or unsure. We would welcome any help in identifying missing or incomplete descriptions. Please send an email to info@med-dept.com, including the term / abbreviation, and an explanation if you wish to contribute to this section of the site.

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Advanced Ambulance Loading Post :

Point forward of the Collecting Station at which casualties are loaded onto Ambulances for evacuation to the rear

Advanced Ambulance Loading Post:

Point forward of the Collecting Station at which casualties are loaded onto Ambulances for evacuation to the rear.

Advanced Ambulance Shuttle:

Ambulance shuttle which is operated between a Collecting Station and an Advanced Ambulance Loading Post

Aid Man:

Man from the Medical Department attached to a Company (Infantry), Battery (Artillery), Troop (Cavalry), etc. (i.e. a member of the Medical Detachment) which task is to give first aid to the wounded and to carry necessary information to the Battalion or Regimental Surgeon, aka “Medic” or “Doc”

Aid Station:

First-aid post or center established by the Medical Department (MD) on the route of evacuation from a combat area to which the wounded are brought, i.e. a Dressing Station or a First-Aid Station . The wounded are given first aid and grouped according to their injuries, those needing further care are prepared for transportation to the rear, abbreviation: AID STA

Air Ambulance :

Or Airplane Ambulance; aircraft specially equipped for transporting wounded personnel in emergencies, ordinary transport and/or cargo planes with improvised equipment are also designated this way

Ambulance:

Vehicle, but also a boat or an aircraft, equipped for carrying sick and wounded persons, abbreviation: AMB

Ambulance Boat:

Boat equipped for transporting sick and wounded personnel to a Hospital Ship from the shore or from a warship

Ambulance Control Post:

A point at a crossroad or road junction at which a soldier is stationed to direct ambulances along the proper route, abbreviation : ACP

Ambulance Insert :

Special frame installed in a motor vehicle and used to support a loaded stretcher

Ambulance Loading Post :

Location in the forward combat area where sick and wounded are loaded into ambulances for transportation to a Clearing Station or a Hospital, usually located at the Collecting Station, abbreviation: ALP

Ambulance Orderly :

Person who accompanies and assists the driver of an ambulance in transporting the sick and wounded

Ambulance Relay Post:

A point on the Ambulance Shuttle where one or more ambulances are stationed ready to advance to replace an ambulance which has left the next post forward, abbreviation : ARP

Ambulance Shuttle:

A method of operating ambulance service in combat . It consists of one or more Ambulance Loading Posts, one or more Ambulance Relay Posts, and a Basic Relay Post

American Red Cross:

American organization that cares for the sick and wounded in war, and that relieves suffering caused by floods, fire, disease and other calamities . It also serves as liaison between members of the Armed Forces and their families and also assists in furnishing relief to Prisoners of War . It is the only civilian organization authorized to function inside a Theater of Operations, abbreviation: ARC

Amputate:

To cut off a limb, as an arm or a leg, when too seriously wounded or infected to be saved

Anesthesia:

Loss of sensation, partial or complete sensory paralysis, commonly induced artificially for the period of a surgical operation

Anesthetic:

Drug or other agent producing anesthesia

Army Dental School:

Special service school that gives instruction and training in professional and technical subjects pertaining to the dental service of the Medical Department, it maintains diagnostic laboratories and engages in research, development and testing of dental supplies and equipment (under supervision of ASF, Army Service Forces).

Army Medical Center :

Professional service schools of the Medical Department at Washington D.C., it includes the Medical, Dental and Veterinary Schools and provides training while maintaining laboratories and carrying on research, abbreviation: AMC

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