EMT B Equipment

[mcgheea08]

Well my name is Randy Mcghee. I am going to begin getting my fire and emt certs in 9 months when my wife finishes her RN program.

I was wondering if anyone can give me a list of tools/equipoment/accessories that I can pick up my self.


Should I have my own responder backpack/bag?

 

[epipusher]

the best thing you should buy for yourself is a good stethoscope. as far as carrying your own bag, personally not a fan due to liability.

 

[llavero]

My equipment consists in a holster with:
- gloves
- thermometer
- tweezers
- clamps
- two scissors
- exploration lantern

In my pockets:
- a pocket mask
- a glucometer
- some gauzes
- some mini bottles of fisiological serum (5 and 10 ml)

In my belt:
- a lantern
- a multi use leatherman model wave

Excepcionaly (in my neck):
- a stethoscope

That's all.

 

[llavero]

My equipment consists in a holster with:
- gloves
- thermometer
- tweezers
- clamps
- two scissors
- exploration lantern

In my pockets:
- a pocket mask
- a glucometer
- some gauzes
- some mini bottles of fisiological serum (5 and 10 ml)

In my belt:
- a lantern
- a multi use leatherman model wave

Excepcionaly (in my neck):
- a stethoscope

That's all.

 

[MrBrown]

Best tool is an awesome anatomy and physiology text book

 

[Chief Complaint]

Well my name is Randy Mcghee. I am going to begin getting my fire and emt certs in 9 months when my wife finishes her RN program.

I was wondering if anyone can give me a list of tools/equipoment/accessories that I can pick up my self.


Should I have my own responder backpack/bag?

My equipment consists in a holster with:
- gloves
- thermometer
- tweezers
- clamps
- two scissors
- exploration lantern

In my pockets:
- a pocket mask
- a glucometer
- some gauzes
- some mini bottles of fisiological serum (5 and 10 ml)

In my belt:
- a lantern
- a multi use leatherman model wave

Excepcionaly (in my neck):
- a stethoscope

That's all.

End well, this will not. These threads have a habit of getting ugly.

The only piece of equipment that you should invest in is a quality stethoscope. At least thats my advice. You can buy pen lights and a BP cuff but those are usually provided by the service you work for. Stethoscopes are often provided as well but i prefer to carry my own.

 

[Flight-LP]

Well my name is Randy Mcghee. I am going to begin getting my fire and emt certs in 9 months when my wife finishes her RN program.

I was wondering if anyone can give me a list of tools/equipoment/accessories that I can pick up my self.


Should I have my own responder backpack/bag?

Are you planning on attending San Jac's programs? If so, they will give you an equipment list, but as others have mentioned, you really only need a quality stethoscope. Everything else will be on the ambulance. No, you do not need, nor is it advised to have a personal bag. If you get employed with an agency that has first responders, you can discuss the issue then.

 

[JJR512]

- some mini bottles of fisiological serum (5 and 10 ml)

...
Excepcionaly (in my neck):
- a stethoscope

1. What is "fisiological serum"?

2. How do you carry a stethoscope in your neck? Doesn't that get in the way of your carotids, jugulars, trachea, etc.?

 

[JPINFV]

2. How do you carry a stethoscope in your neck? Doesn't that get in the way of your carotids, jugulars, trachea, etc.?

I don't think he's a native English speaker considering that his location is in Spain.

 

[dixie_flatline]

Yeah, I agree. He seems to be carrying more than the communally-agreed-upon bare minimum, but I'm not going to knock his translation since my Spanish would be a lot worse (aka babelfish).

Things I've learned since my "gadget craze" phase (like the chicken pox, almost all of us get it when we're younger):

• I have a nice 'scope that I love (Master Classic II). As someone with less than perfect hearing it's saved my butt (and dignity) probably more than anything else. It can't do the job for me, but it definitely works better than the cheapo Spragues stocked on our ambos.
• My second best purchase was a little belt mounted pouch for gloves. It can keep 2 pairs on my belt, and cost me like $3. That thing gets the hell used out of it.
• I also get a lot of use out of my flashlight/torch/lantern - a little Surefire I got before the prices jumped way up. It's bright as hell, fits in just about any pocket, and has a lower setting to save on batteries. The department provided lights consist of penlights and big unwieldy lights like this.
• The trauma shears I got for $10? Stay in my department-provided fanny pack on 80%+ of calls. Still, they cut exceptionally well and I like having my own so I don't have to go looking for a set when they are needed.
• Only reason I got my own sphygmomanometer was for practice at home - wouldn't dream of bringing it to work.
• The only thing I have ever used my fancy Gerber knife for is the O2 wrench...

 

[dstevens58]

My basic instructor told us to bring a blood pressure cuff and a stethoscope. I used one of our spares in the supply closet of our agency.

 

[Hunter]

stethoscope and books. Love my litman classic II

 

[dixie_flatline]

1. What is "fisiological serum"?

I'm going to assume that "fisiological" is a misspelling of physiological. sérum physiologique = normal saline.

 

[usafmedic45]

Should I have my own responder backpack/bag?

No.

See these previous threads for explanations why:
http://emtlife.com/showthread.php?t=24536
http://emtlife.com/showthread.php?t=21773
http://emtlife.com/showthread.php?t=18342
http://emtlife.com/showthread.php?t=17911&highlight=bleeding
http://emtlife.com/showthread.php?t=22671&highlight=personal+jump
http://emtlife.com/showthread.php?t=20282
http://emtlife.com/showthread.php?t=18192


Some good advice in general:
http://emtlife.com/showthread.php?t=23783

 

[epipusher]

USAF, great post. These new emt's/medics that I run into or work with that carry these bags with a crazy amount of equipment in it are absolutely scary. It almost always coincides with the amount of ems/star of life stickers on their vehicles.

 

[usafmedic45]

Thanks. It's almost a stock response at this point. I always argue the more crap they have on their car, in their bag or on their belt, the less I trust them. Newbies, keep this in mind!

 

[dixie_flatline]

At least like chicken pox, once you've been "cured", it doesn't often resurface.

 

[JJR512]

I don't think he's a native English speaker considering that his location is in Spain.

Ah, a classic error in online forums, and one I've dinged others on in the past for committing. My sincerest apologies, llavero. -_-

 

[JJR512]

I'm going to assume that "fisiological" is a misspelling of physiological. sérum physiologique = normal saline.

Ah, thanks for explaining what "physiological serum" was as well because I would have asked what that was, too.

I have a lot of the same stuff you do...Almost the same knife, but the red version; same trauma shears; a different variant of the Surefire 6P model flashlight; and a Littmann scope (different model though). I keep gloves in one of the cargo pockets of my pants, though.

 

[HMartinho]

In USA, you "say" normal saline. In Europe, like Portugal, we "say" soro fisiológico (physiological serum).


Here, our trauma bags, airway/ressuscitation bags and diagnostic equipment bags, are very well equipped.
Still, I use a vest with many pockets (like this:http://www.jubileu-porto.com/detalhe.asp?Grup=6&prod=101), where I have my own material, such as:

- gloves
- plastic apron (I don't know if it's the correct name)
- personal protective eyewear
- pocket mask
- My own sthetoscope
- 2 pens
- notebook
- exploration lantern
- trauma scissors
- PP face masks
- minor trauma injuries material, like bandages, gauzes etc.