NFIRS 5.0 Element: ‘Primary Apparent Symptom’ – Fire Service Casualty
Definition : The firefighter’s most serious apparent injury.
Purpose : This entry, in conjunction with other related entries, can improve the understanding of the nature and cause of firefighter casualties and can aid in improving firefighter equipment and training needs. For example, large numbers of smoke inhalation injuries to firefighters would indicate a need to reevaluate the uses or adequacy of breathing apparatus.

Entry : Enter the two-digit code and description of the casualty’s that appears to be the most serious.
Element Specification
Specification | Value |
---|---|
Requirement | Optional |
Expected Length | 2 |
Element Type | Coded Field – The coded field relating to an entry in the code table. Most coded fields allow for Plus+ One codes. For these fields the expected length of the coded entry is depicted as (National length OR Plus+ One length). Only fields with this notation in the expected length column allow for Plus+ One definitions. If the user has not provided information, an empty field should be transmitted. |
PRIMARY APPARENT SYMPTOM CODES
Here are the NFIRS codes for the ‘Primary Apparent Symptom’ element
Primary Apparent Symptom | Code |
---|---|
Smoke Inhalation | 01 |
Hazardous Fumes Inhalation | 02 |
Breathing Difficulty or Shortness Of Breath | 03 |
Burns And Smoke Inhalation | 11 |
Burns Only, Thermal | 12 |
Burn, Scald | 13 |
Burn, Chemical | 14 |
Burn, Electric | 15 |
Cut or Laceration | 21 |
Stab Wound/puncture Wound: Penetrating | 22 |
Gunshot Wound; Projectile Wound | 23 |
Contusion/bruise, Minor Trauma | 24 |
Abrasion | 25 |
Dislocation | 31 |
Fracture | 32 |
Strain or Sprain | 33 |
Swelling | 34 |
Crushing | 35 |
Amputation | 36 |
Cardiac Symptoms | 41 |
Cardiac Arrest | 42 |
Stroke | 43 |
Respiratory Arrest | 44 |
Chills | 51 |
Fever | 52 |
Nausea | 53 |
Vomiting | 54 |
Numbness or Tingling, Paresthesia | 55 |
Paralysis | 56 |
Frostbite | 57 |
Sickness – Other | 50 |
Miscarriage | 61 |
Eye Trauma, Avulsion | 63 |
Drowning | 64 |
Foreign Body Obstruction | 65 |
Electric Shock | 66 |
Poison | 67 |
Convulsion or Seizure | 71 |
Internal Trauma | 72 |
Hemorrhaging, Bleeding Internally | 73 |
Disorientation | 81 |
Dizziness/fainting/weakness | 82 |
Exhaustion/fatigue, Including Heat Exhaustion | 83 |
Heat Stroke | 84 |
Dehydration | 85 |
Allergic Reaction, Including Anaphylactic Shock | 91 |
Drug Overdose | 92 |
Alcohol Impairment | 93 |
Emotional/psychological Stress | 94 |
Mental Disorder | 95 |
Shock | 96 |
Unconscious | 97 |
Pain Only | 98 |
Primary Apparent Symptom – Other | 00 |
None | NN |
Undetermined | UU |
Transactions containing ‘Primary Apparent Symptom’
The value of this element is captured by the following transaction :
Need more NFIRS help?
Here are some other useful ressources to learn more about NFIRS.
NFIRS Codes Cheat Sheet – NFIRS Coding – NFIRS Examples – FDIDs – POCs – NFIRS Transactions – NFIRS Modules – NFIRS Elements – NFIRS Rules – NFIRS Reference – NFIRS Compliant ?
You can also read this NFIRS 5.0 Complete Reference Guide, and NFIRS 5.0 Design Documentation in order to have a deeper understanding of NFIRS 5.0. Here are also NFIRS 5.0 Forms ready for you to download and use.
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Last Updated on May 5, 2023