To provide patients with the care they need, it’s important to have the proper supplies readily available. Here are eight must-have EMS items to have accessible at all times.

Trauma Shears

It’s vital to be able to quickly cut through clothing, seatbelts, or other materials that are preventing you from treating the patient.

Trauma shears allow you to safely cut through fabrics and other obstructions without injuring the patient.

Stethoscope

When you need to listen to a patient’s heart or check their lungs for fluid, you need access to a stethoscope. Though simple, this tool has the potential to save lives.

Tourniquet

Tourniquets are needed to control blood loss after a severe injury. A tourniquet kit has everything you need to get traumatic bleeding under control.

Pulse Oximeter

Quickly check the patient’s blood oxygen saturation levels to determine if a patient requires immediate intubation. This pulse oximeter boasts a simple design that’s easy to use and offers multiple display options.

Blood Pressure Cuff

A blood pressure cuff is needed to measure a patient’s blood pressure so that EMS can determine if they’re in shock, in a hypertensive crisis, or potentially experiencing congestive heart failure. Have an adjustable adult cuff and a pediatric cuff on hand to accommodate different arm sizes.

Flashlight

Even though a flashlight doesn’t seem like a piece of life-saving medical equipment, it’s invaluable when you find yourself in a situation where you need to assess a patient at night or in low-light conditions.

Oxygen Wrench

An oxygen wrench is needed for adjusting oxygen tank valves and replacing oxygen tanks. You don’t want to have a patient who needs oxygen, only to discover that you have no way of swapping the tank or adjusting the amount of oxygen they receive.

Stock Up on Your EMS Supplies

Find that your EMS stockpile is lacking necessary supplies? Visit Coast Biomedical Equipment for all your essential EMS equipment.