Yesterday we talked about acronyms to remember important information in the Safety & Health world.  In particular:

P.A.S.S., RECEO-VS, RICE, ABCs of CPR, CIA CAT and FAST

Acronyms are a great way to remember key information and a few examples are shown above.  If you read yesterday’s post, you know I asked if you knew what these acronyms stood for and I promised to share the answers today.  (These are provided at the bottom of this post).

As shown in the image above, Righty Tighty Lefty Loosey is a way to help remember which way to turn a screw, nut, bolt, etc. to tighten it (right) or to loosen it (left).

While Righty Tighty Lefty Loosey is an example of a mnemonic, it is not an acronym but an acrostic. The difference is that one is a collection of letters with each letter standing for a word and the other is a phrase or short sentence with the first letter of each word in the sentence referring to something else but they both serve the same purpose – to help people to remember.

Take a look at the following acrostic related to hazmat.

Every Good Lieutenant’s First Standard Operating Procedure Really Can Matter

This acrostic refers to types of hazard classes (Explosives, Gases, Liquids (flammable and combustible),  Flammable Solids, Oxiders, Poisons, Radioactive Products, Corrosives, and Miscellaneous)

Would that acrostic help you to remember?

Do you have any others to share?

Answers to the above acronyms

P.A.S.S. =  Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep (how to use a fire extinguisher)

RECEO-VS = Rescue, Exposure, Confine, Extinguish, Overhaul and Ventilate, Salvage (firefighters guide to making decisions)

RICE = Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation (what to do for a sprain)

ABCs of CPR = Airway, Breathing, Compression (steps in cardiopulmonary resuscitation)

CIA-CAT = Compliance, Indicators, Accidents, Complaints, Absenteeism, Turnover (Safety Culture Indicators)

FAST = Face Drooping, Arm Weakness, Speech Difficulty, Time to call 911 (signs of a stroke)

Note: Nothing in this post is meant to be taken as medical advice and information is only provided as examples of learning techniques. For medical issues, contact a medical professional and/or call 911 in emergencies.