What is Standard EMS Equipment?
When you’re preparing to go on a trip it’s not unusual for you to make a list of all the items you plan on packing or need to get before you leave. Clothing, toiletries, sunscreen, map, tickets are all laid out and accounted for, itinerary is accounted for, and you feel prepared for all possible outcomes. The same preparation that you put into a weekend trip goes into a day in the life of an EMS professional.
A EMS professional has long hours, unpredictable shifts, and professional ems equipment that they have to deal with every day. Making sure that your most used equipment is checked daily and working correctly can make your daily runs and calls smooth and help your patients. Here are our top 5 equipment needs for your ambulance;
- Portable suction apparatus with a regulator
This is an important life saving device that should be included on every ambulance. The suction apparatus is used in emergencies to remove mucus or other fluids that are restricting the patient’s airways.
- Sphygmomanometer
Otherwise known as a blood pressure cuff, this piece of equipment should be an obvious necessity for any medical professional. Being able to quickly read the blood pressure of your patient can tell you how well the heart is working, altering you to dangerous situations where the patient’s heart could be overworking or not working hard enough.
- Nebulizer
Nebulizers are a specialty device used to administer medication in the form of mist directly into the lungs, similar to an inhaler. In situations where the drug needs to be administered as fast as possible, a nebulizer is the first choice for administration.
- Automated external defibrillator (AED)
Similar to jumping a battery on a car, an AED gives your heart an electric shock to get it pumping correctly and in a healthy rhythm. They are usually located not only in ambulances, but in other high traffic areas as well like schools and front offices.
- Pulse oximeter
This device measures the oxygen saturation level of a patient’s blood, and measures the changes in the volume of blood in the body. These are necessary in measuring the effectiveness that the body has in absorbing the oxygen that you are breathing in, altering them to issues that could prevent patients from breathing.
When preparing for your EMS shifts, making sure that your ambulance is stocked and that your most necessary equipment has been serviced and is in working order is a top priority. Coast Biomedical Equipment specializes in providing new and refurbished emergency medical equipment to ensure that EMS have the necessary equipment in proper working order for every emergency! Preparing now could save a life!
