ambulance equipment to help with diluting drugs

[mbd410]

Is there any kind of equipment on an ambulance that would help dilute a drug with a solvent? For instance, if you had to dilute morphine to make it a 1 mg per ml concentration, is there something on the ambulance to help do that?

Thanks...

 

[Ridryder911]

Yes.. any IV fluid is used. Preferably Saline or Sterile Water (injectable type not the type in a bottle).

 

[reaper]

We have the 10ml saline flushes. We use those for diluting MS, if needed. We also carry 50ml bags of d5w and saline, just for that.

 

[Jon]

I see the saline flushes used a lot... you just removed 1 or 2 cc's of fluid, then draw the med into the saline syringe.

A caveat - you NEED TO LABEL THIS - quickly and obviously. The last thing you need to do is give 5mg MS slow IVP, then grab the other 5mg and use it as a flush when you start a 2nd IV line. Mistakes happen... but usually they aren't accidents, they are because we are careless.

 

[reaper]

If I have any meds left, I tape the syringe to my shirt. This way I know where it is at all times. It never gets lost and is right there when I need it.

 

[Jon]

If I have any meds left, I tape the syringe to my shirt. This way I know where it is at all times. It never gets lost and is right there when I need it.

Reaper - I've seen lots of RN's do the same thing in hospital.