Learning DCAPBTLS (A word of advice)

I first heard the BCAPBTLS acronym sometime around 1998 while helping a group of EMT’s practice their skills. I hadn’t been involved in EMT education for several years and I had missed the whole inception of the DCAPBTLS acronym. Dutifully, each aspiring EMT moved from the head to the neck, shoulders, chest and abdomen. Each student verbalized their assessments as they went along and sounded off the acronym in turn.

“I’m exposing the chest and looking for DCAPBTLS.” “I’m checking the abdomen for DCAPBTLS.” On and on it went until I finally interjected, “What is this word you all keep using?”

“What word?”

“That word. The Dee Cap something.”

“Oh yeah.” They chimed in and began explaining the purpose of the DCAPBTLS acronym. If I remember correctly, there may also have been a “TIC” component added on to the end as well. If there was, the TIC part has been lost to education history. The students explained that DCAPBTLS was an acronym that was designed to help them remember the various abnormalities that they were looking for during the assessment. Then the funny part happened.

Collectively the students tried to recall all the elements of the acronym. “Deformity, contusions … uh … abrasions.” The room fell silent. “Uh … the T is tenderness.”

“Don’t forget bruising.” Another student chimed in. “Oh, yeah. Bruising.”

By the time the students collectively produced all eight elements of the acronym, several things were clear. The eight elements of DCAPBTLS was not one of them. Before we get in to that, let’s set the record strait. DCAPBTLS stands for:

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