General
drt
What does drt mean?
Dead Right There. EMS/fire shorthand radioed or muttered when the patient is obviously deceased on scene — no CPR, no transport, no miracle. It's the call you clear in five minutes because there's nothing to do but wait for the coroner.
"Dispatch wanted vitals — I just keyed up and said 'DRT, send the ME.'"
Origin
American EMS/fire slang, in print since at least the 1990s; a gallows-humor cousin of DOA (Dead On Arrival) used when the call clearly never had a save in it.
Frequently asked questions
What does DRT stand for?
DRT stands for "Dead Right There" — EMS shorthand meaning the patient has already died, before you even get them onto the gurney.
How do you use DRT in a sentence?
"We rolled up to the scene but the guy was DRT, so it became a police matter."
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