life support
Keeping organs functioning
Life support refers to medical equipment or procedures that sustain vital functions—breathing, heartbeat, blood pressure—when a patient's body cannot maintain them independently: She was on life support for three weeks after the accident.
The phrase often appears in end-of-life discussions about whether to continue mechanical intervention.
Figuratively, anything barely surviving is on life support: The failing company was on financial life support.
Mechanical breathing apparatus
- respiratorBreathing protection device
- ICUAcute care ward
- critical careTreatment for severe illness
- intubationPlacing airway tube
mechanical ventilation · dialysis · tracheostomy · feeding tube · cardiopulmonary · oxygenation · ECMO · pacemaker
Restoring vital functions
- CPREmergency revival technique
- paramedicPrehospital emergency caregiver
- ambulanceEmergency medical transport
- triageSeverity-based prioritization
911 · first aid · emergency room · trauma · defibrillator · stretcher · medevac · siren
Essential connection to safety
- dependenceState of needing another
- propping upSupporting to prevent collapse
- bailoutEmergency aid preventing bankruptcy
- subsidyFinancial assistance from government
crutch · last resort · on the brink · artificial · unsustainable · failing · declining · struggling
Means of living
- provisionsStockpiled food and supplies
- subsistenceMinimal means of living
- rationsControlled food portions
- oxygenElement eight, colorless gas
water · shelter · essentials · basics · necessities · bare bones · lifeline · sustaining
All life on Earth
- ecosystemsInterdependent organism-environment systems
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
- conservationPreventing waste or loss
sustainability · endangered species · keystone species · food web · pollination · photosynthesis · climate regulation · coral reefs
ventilator
Mechanical breathing apparatus
- respiratorBreathing protection device
- ICUAcute care ward
- critical careTreatment for severe illness
intubation · mechanical ventilation · dialysis · tracheostomy · feeding tube · cardiopulmonary · oxygenation · ECMO · pacemaker · incubator
resuscitation
Restoring vital functions
- CPREmergency revival technique
- paramedicPrehospital emergency caregiver
- ambulanceEmergency medical transport
triage · 911 · first aid · emergency room · trauma · defibrillator · stretcher · medevac · siren · evacuation
lifeline
Essential connection to safety
- dependenceState of needing another
- propping upSupporting to prevent collapse
- bailoutEmergency aid preventing bankruptcy
subsidy · crutch · last resort · on the brink · artificial · unsustainable · failing · declining · struggling · intervention
sustenance
Means of living
- provisionsStockpiled food and supplies
- subsistenceMinimal means of living
- rationsControlled food portions
oxygen · water · shelter · essentials · basics · necessities · bare bones · lifeline · sustaining · holding on
biosphere
All life on Earth
- ecosystemsInterdependent organism-environment systems
- biodiversityRange of life forms
- habitatOrganism's natural environment
conservation · sustainability · endangered species · keystone species · food web · pollination · photosynthesis · climate regulation · coral reefs · wetlands
- "life" phrasesnightlife, wildlife, lowlife, highlife
- critical infrastructurepower grid, air traffic control, communication networks, healthcare systems, financial systems
- death lawdeath certificate, death certificates, death tax, death penalty, death benefits
- End-of-Lifeadvance directive, DNR, do not resuscitate, hospice, living will
- intensive careventilator, ICU, central line, cardiac monitor, heart monitor
- underwater livingliving quarters, aquanauts, water recycling
life supportwithdrawal of care
Ceasing medical treatment intentionally
pulling the plug · do not resuscitate · DNR · palliative care · hospice care
life supporteuthanasia
Deliberate death for relief
death · natural death · assisted suicide · death with dignity · mercy killing
live, life, support, lively, supporter, lifeless, lifetime, portable, portfolio