Essential BLS Equipment/Gear

[kurtemt]

i agree, you dont need a bat belt. All I carry on me is a penlight, 2 pens, and a knife. Thats all i need. If im grabbing intial vitals il bring my stethescope.

I keep extra stuff in my bag, food, pens, marker, extra gps, books with #'s and address for all area hosptals and nursing homes.

On a side note my company provides us with and requires us to moniter pulse ox but the ones they give us are cheap. Alot of my partners have their own that work alot better. the wallgreens brand ones work ok.

Everything else i need is either on the back of the cot or in the jump bag if I need it

 

[BklynGnome]

i agree, you dont need a bat belt. All I carry on me is a penlight, 2 pens, and a knife. Thats all i need. If im grabbing intial vitals il bring my stethescope.

I keep extra stuff in my bag, food, pens, marker, extra gps, books with #'s and address for all area hosptals and nursing homes.

On a side note my company provides us with and requires us to moniter pulse ox but the ones they give us are cheap. Alot of my partners have their own that work alot better. the wallgreens brand ones work ok.

Everything else i need is either on the back of the cot or in the jump bag if I need it

I'm definitely going to be experimenting with figuring out where the line is between having way too much stuff I won't need, and being ill prepared... but I'd rather have too much on my person than not enough - I've already had a basic txp turn into an emergency when a guy going to the ER for an AVR started having a pulmonary embolism... so I'd rather be over prepared than under...

 

[Tigger]

I'm definitely going to be experimenting with figuring out where the line is between having way too much stuff I won't need, and being ill prepared... but I'd rather have too much on my person than not enough - I've already had a basic txp turn into an emergency when a guy going to the ER for an AVR started having a pulmonary embolism... so I'd rather be over prepared than under...

What would you be carrying on your person that would affect your care of this person?

If there is something, would this item also be found in the jump bag or other area of the ambulance?

 

[kevin7026]

I'm definitely going to be experimenting with figuring out where the line is between having way too much stuff I won't need, and being ill prepared... but I'd rather have too much on my person than not enough - I've already had a basic txp turn into an emergency when a guy going to the ER for an AVR started having a pulmonary embolism... so I'd rather be over prepared than under...

You can have the entire ambulance and then some in your back pocket, bottom line you are a basic and there isn't a thing you could have done for this pt. Medics can punch a hole in the chest, but it still may not be enough to save the pt. You have o2 and diesel/gas USE IT.

 

[chaz90]

You can have the entire ambulance and then some in your back pocket, bottom line you are a basic and there isn't a thing you could have done for this pt. Medics can punch a hole in the chest, but it still may not be enough to save the pt. You have o2 and diesel/gas USE IT.

Ain't nobody punching a hole in a chest for a PE. I believe you mean a pneumothorax, and one that's tensioning at that

 

[BklynGnome]

What would you be carrying on your person that would affect your care of this person?

If there is something, would this item also be found in the jump bag or other area of the ambulance?

Obviously my co. issued pager and ID...

These things are supplied, but I've been acquiring my own, since the co. issued stuff is cheap/old/flimsy/etc.:
- Stethoscope
- BP Cuff
- Shears
- Penlight

Other than that it's just:
- Pulse Ox
- Watch
- Small Leatherman
- Pens
- Latex Gloves

And while I'm getting a knife/flashlight kit, that will probably just wind up staying on the bus for the most part, unless I get a call where I think I may need those...

Is this excessive?

 

[Handsome Robb]

No stethoscope? No BP Cuff?

BP cuff is in my first out bag. There's also one in the truck. Also stethoscopes.

I do carry my own personal stethoscope.

My "work" file on my phone looks basically identical to DE's and they do get used. Resuscitation! Is a cool app as well, not EMS related but its fun. Makes me realize how little I actually know.

I get being prepared but carry your gear in your bag, not on your person. I promise you that you'll get sick of being a walking first out bag, especially in a SSM system where you sit in your ambulance all the time.

Another thing I carry in my right cargo pocket is my narcotics kit.

 

[kevin7026]

Ain't nobody punching a hole in a chest for a PE. I believe you mean a pneumothorax, and one that's tensioning at that

That, sorry, coming to the end of a 24hr shift. I know that's no excuse and my medic partner just ate my *** for it. Sorry folks on emtlife.

 

[BklynGnome]

You can have the entire ambulance and then some in your back pocket, bottom line you are a basic and there isn't a thing you could have done for this pt. Medics can punch a hole in the chest, but it still may not be enough to save the pt. You have o2 and diesel/gas USE IT.

Yup - that's what we did... O2 and AGL...

I just don't want to be in a situation where it's like, "nah, I won't get this thing" or, "I'll leave this in the bus" or whatnot... and then you get that one call... you know?

 

[chaz90]

Yup - that's what we did... O2 and AGL.

What's AGL? As far as your list, I'd say go with pens, a knife, a flashlight, and shears. Penlight can be found in gear when needed, and believe me, you'll just lose your own. IMO, a personal BP cuff isn't remotely necessary, but I do use a personal stethoscope. Nothing you've listed is really ever going to be a difference maker in a "make or break" patient, so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

 

[BklynGnome]

What's AGL? As far as your list, I'd say go with pens, a knife, a flashlight, and shears. Penlight can be found in gear when needed, and believe me, you'll just lose your own. IMO, a personal BP cuff isn't remotely necessary, but I do use a personal stethoscope. Nothing you've listed is really ever going to be a difference maker in a "make or break" patient, so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

AGL = Apply Gas Liberally

As far as the BP Cuff goes... the one supplied to us is falling apart, so having my own seems to me to be a good idea...

But, yeah - I just wanted to be sure I wasn't overdoing it and just weighing myself down... there's one crew w. my co. that brings one of those portable O2 bags on every call - weather they're picking up or dropping off a Pt. - weather it's an emergency call or not... another guy carries a taser w. him at all times (again, we're private, non-911 - I have no idea why he would ever ever use that - that's just crazy...).

Thanks!

 

[Handsome Robb]

I just don't want to be in a situation where it's like, "nah, I won't get this thing" or, "I'll leave this in the bus" or whatnot... and then you get that one call... you know?

That's what your first out bags are for. Put 'em on the gurney and wheel it in.

My first out bag, airway bag and monitor come in on most every call unless I have a real good reason not too, which isn't very often. If we're doing a scheduled IFT to home/SNF from the hospital I'll only bring in equipment that's required to maintain the orders the MD wrote that are given to us in the dispatch information.

We're the primary ALS 911 provider, fire has a few ALS engines but we're the only transport agency. We also do all the IFTs in our county.

If the BP cuff on your rig is falling apart your agency needs to replace it, not you. If they won't, I'd start looking for a new job but that's me.

Also, random pet peeve. We generally wear nitrile gloves now, not latex.

With that said, if you want to carry a ton of stuff in your pockets or on your belt, that's your decision. To each their own.

 

[hogdweeb]

I carry my statgear knife, which has a seatbelt cutter/clothes removal tool, flash light and a standard half serrated, hald smooth knife edge. Other then that, my pager, pen and pad. I have an app on my phone for the few rare calls where I know ill be out for a while...such as an MVR with entrapment or something to keep track of times, vitals, ect. What else do I need?

as for steel toe boots. Wouldnt go anywhere without them. Worn them for years (since the 8th grade, now been out of school for 2 years). Have it on my PPE for the fire department, obviously. As been mentioned for their uses, fulcrums, moving objects, kicking hot objects out of way, etc, etc.

 

[Ace 227]

No stethoscope? No BP Cuff?

Not on my person or in my pockets. I have my own stethoscope that I managed to "acquire" and if I need it for a call I'll grab it and put it on the house bag. Other than that my house bag has a BP cuff, airway supplies, IV supplies, IO drill, cardiac and general meds, trauma supplies, etc. I don't need much else.

 

[hogdweeb]

Not on my person or in my pockets. I have my own stethoscope that I managed to "acquire" and if I need it for a call I'll grab it and put it on the house bag. Other than that my house bag has a BP cuff, airway supplies, IV supplies, IO drill, cardiac and general meds, trauma supplies, etc. I don't need much else.

IV's and IO's as a basic? I see youve served, and I thank you, but isnt 68W Military Police? I may be mistaken, but a good friends father served, and I believe he said he was a 68W which was MP. Not bashing you, Appreciate your service, but Im confused about giving IV's and IO's as a basic. I know in some areas basics can give modified intubations and in other areas with an IV endorsement start IV's, but it still doesnt answer the IO question.

 

[STXmedic]

IV's and IO's as a basic? I see youve served, and I thank you, but isnt 68W Military Police? I may be mistaken, but a good friends father served, and I believe he said he was a 68W which was MP. Not bashing you, Appreciate your service, but Im confused about giving IV's and IO's as a basic. I know in some areas basics can give modified intubations and in other areas with an IV endorsement start IV's, but it still doesnt answer the IO question.

68W

As far as IVs and IOs, it's of course highly area specific. In my department (Texas), our basics can insert King tubes and perform IOs, but cannot perform IVs. On the tactical medic team here (a team of PD trained as basics), they can do Kings, IVs, and IOs. We don't have any special endorsements or anything. Everything we do is based on what the medical director wants. If he wants out basics to intubate (god forbid....) then they can intubate.

There are areas that require certain endorsements for interventions, like you had mentioned. I believe CO is one of those states. There, you would have to take a class of x hours, after which they'd give you an endorsement to allow performance of that skill. I do not know if IO would fall under the IV endorsement, though.

 

[Ace 227]

IV's and IO's as a basic? I see youve served, and I thank you, but isnt 68W Military Police? I may be mistaken, but a good friends father served, and I believe he said he was a 68W which was MP. Not bashing you, Appreciate your service, but Im confused about giving IV's and IO's as a basic. I know in some areas basics can give modified intubations and in other areas with an IV endorsement start IV's, but it still doesnt answer the IO question.

Sorry for any confusion. 68W is a Healthcare Specialist, aka Combat Medic.
31B is MP. The equipment I'm referring to is for the ALS 911 service I work for.

 

[hogdweeb]

Sorry for any confusion. 68W is a Healthcare Specialist, aka Combat Medic.
31B is MP. The equipment I'm referring to is for the ALS 911 service I work for.

Lack of knowledge for MOS codes, my mistake there...quick google search could have told me that.

 

[Bullets]

I doubt I'll need a door chock any time soon.

if i had to rank my most used piece of equipment
1 gloves
2 Steth
3 Door chock


Probably the most used non-medical piece of equipment, use it when carrying a patient out of a house, in apartment buildings with automatic locks, electronic locks, door closers or multiple doors

You can also put a nail into a short dowel, bend it into a hook and put that over a hinge. Called a cherry bomb

 

[MDT2192]

Essential for BLS/ALS , Your brain! Common sense , a good pt assessment and when to realize its time to start moving towards the hospital