So how do you set up your ambulance?

Shishkabob

Shishkabob

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Everyone has their quirks, special ways they like some things when they get in to the ambulance, for whatever reason. I know some people who put ASA and nitro on the bench seat and out of the drug cabinet, and I know some others who put restricting bands on the hand-bars on the ceiling so they can just grab it and have one ready.


I found myself always putting a vomit bag behind the bench cushion so I didn't have to reach in to the furthest cabinet if someone felt nauseated. I can just reach behind me and grab the bag ready to go. I also put the CPAP machine in the space behind the air-chair for easier access while moving as well, both learned from various calls.



What do you do, and why?
 
That's a good question! I usually put the restricting bands and some tape hanging from the monkey bars (grab bar..lol), just so it's easier and well within reach when I'm going to start a line. Other than that, i really don't do anything differently.
 
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When I was on a bus fulltime I'd get an IV bag, line set, 2x2, venaguard, ETOH prep, and several various catheters and use a tourniquet to bundle them all together.
Tape was always hanging from a loop on my right leg pocket
 
I have an IV tray secured to the bench by seat belt with the VCB's on top, and a couple of chux as well. the tray has everything I need, and fits nicely at the end of the bench, out of the way but within reach. I like to spike a bag, time and date it, and hang it up. I'll leave it by the vent in the winter, to heat it up. If it's really cold, I'll throw an unopened bag on the dash. I prefer not to hang tape, since that goes on the pt's skin, and ought not be hanging on what may be a dirty surface. I usually have an extra set of hands to either set up a lock or hand me tape, anyway. I highly recommend putting a chux or towel under the pt's arm or leg when going for a stick, in case of a poor tamponade.

I also fold a towel at the head of the stretcher. This is to help catch vomit, and also for a quick head covering for the cold, snow, or rain.

I prefer to have my 3 lead and 12 lead stickys already attached. You may cause some pts pain if you put the electrode down on the skin, and then press the cable onto it.

My collar bag has two adult collars and one peds, one set of spider straps, 1" tape x 1, 2" tape x 2, and one blanket.

What other questions regarding setup do you want to know?
 
colafdp said:
That's a good question! I usually put the restricting bands and some tape hanging from the monkey bars (grab bar..lol), just so it's easier and well within reach when I'm going to start a line. Other than that, i really don't do anything differently.
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LOL! I always pull the tape down. I also always make sure the velcro loops that keep the IV bag from swinging around when you hang them from the ceiling are looped together. If I have to get up and move around the back, they both tend to get caught in longer hair and I hate it when that happens.

I also put both the monitor (when I'm not using it, obviously) and the drug box in the cabinet, and only leave the airway bag out. However, I shove it up between the front cabinets. That way they are out of the way, again, if I have to move around, so I don't trip over them. Also, if we have an ambulatory patient, I don't have to worry about him/her tripping over all the crap on the floor.

I also grab the computer from the charger to enter run info into it on the way to the run for the ePCR.
 
jtpaintball70 said:
When I was on a bus fulltime I'd get an IV bag, line set, 2x2, venaguard, ETOH prep, and several various catheters and use a tourniquet to bundle them all together.
Tape was always hanging from a loop on my right leg pocket
Click to expand...

I forgot about my start packs! I take an 18g x 2, 20g x 2, 14/16/22/24 x 1, two tegaderms, tape, a flush, and some 2x2's, roll it all up in a chux, and tie a VCB around it. Good for in the house.
 
Vomit bag. Always. I've learned that I'll otherwise wind up being the vomit bag.

If I'm on a medic truck, I'll also have tape, a towel, and a spiked bag hanging, plus whatever else my partner wants. Everyone always keeps stickies on the monitors, so I don't usually need to set that up.
 
keep 'm coming... good read here
 
I have yet to work in an ambulance a ton, hear and there when I can. I have already begun having my little tweaks.

10ish pieces of tape on the ceiling hand bars
Putting a c-collar and head bed in with the backboards
Putting iv locks, caths, and ekg tags in a puke basin behind the bench cushion.

Like I said, I haven't worked alot yet but I am hoping that all changes very soon.
 
Friendly advice - place a towel inside the emesis basin; it'll help prevent the vomit from splasing or spilling out. Also, keep some red bags or pt belongings bags to use as "party bags". Put a hole on one side near the top, and hang it around a drunk's neck to catch the fun. It saved me a few times when carrying a drunk downstairs on a stair chair.
 
46Young said:
Friendly advice - place a towel inside the emesis basin; it'll help prevent the vomit from splasing or spilling out. Also, keep some red bags or pt belongings bags to use as "party bags". Put a hole on one side near the top, and hang it around a drunk's neck to catch the fun. It saved me a few times when carrying a drunk downstairs on a stair chair.
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They actually make a product precisely for this purpose called the "barf bib." Have you seen this thing? It looks pretty hilarious. http://www.thebarfbibcompany.com/services.html

Seems like they could have gone with a slightly more discrete name, or at least made the logo a little bit smaller. Then again, I guess if you're so ETOH that you can't manage to hold a basin in front of you while you puke, your dignity is pretty much gone anyway. ;)

(I know, not all uncontrollably vomiting people are ETOH--just most)
 
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reidnez said:
They actually make a product precisely for this purpose called the "barf bib." Have you seen this thing? It looks pretty hilarious. http://www.thebarfbibcompany.com/services.html

Seems like they could have gone with a slightly more discrete name, or at least made the logo a little bit smaller. Then again, I guess if you're so ETOH that you can't manage to hold a basin in front of you while you puke, your dignity is pretty much gone anyway. ;)

(I know, not all uncontrollably vomiting people are ETOH--just most)
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You're right, that does look pretty hilarious.

Two things, an image conscious agency will not be willing to embarass their pts by putting something with such a ridiculous name on them. Also, it covers their face, and may present problems with monitoring the pt. Hard to tell just from the pictures if this would be an issue or not.
 
I do not like the cone of shame...

web_pic_3-187x270.jpg
 
Buzz said:
Also effective at stopping those uncooperative patients from gnawing at their wounds :rolleyes:
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Hahahahaha.




That's a pretty good idea, 46young, I'll keep that one.
 
we don't really have a "setup" for the rigs in my company... every ambulance is completely different and things kinda got shoved wherever they would fit. keep the collars with the linens. except for the heavy blankets, they go under the bench with the HEPA Masks and the back boards that were stolen from a local FD (i kinda want to return them and apologize for my company's stupidity). i guess we dont keep gloves on board anymore... thats weird. and everything else is everywhere else. yay!:sad:
 
ZVNEMT said:
we don't really have a "setup" for the rigs in my company... every ambulance is completely different and things kinda got shoved wherever they would fit. keep the collars with the linens. except for the heavy blankets, they go under the bench with the HEPA Masks and the back boards that were stolen from a local FD (i kinda want to return them and apologize for my company's stupidity). i guess we dont keep gloves on board anymore... thats weird. and everything else is everywhere else. yay!:sad:
Click to expand...

My old company was like that, but since the crews were asigned specific rigs, we organized them to our specs, which for hte most part were pretty close alike.
 
I am one of those crazy medics that has a lot of quirks.

We all use IV trays, and most medics have their own small set up, so I have that. There is always at least one emesis bag out of the wrapper and taped to the wall, or put somewhere else convenient.

I also have suction cup soap dishes suck to the wall that hold my tape, tourniquets and EKG electrodes. They are AWESOME! No more tape rolling around everywhere, no tape residue on my grab bar, no tape stacked on the O2 port. Same with the tourniquets. With the EKG electrodes they don't spill, don't get lost, and I don't have to worry about un-seatbelting the monitor to get into the back pouch to get them out. The dishes all plastic so they can be disinfected too.

And now if any of my co workers are on here they will know who I am 'cause that can't be a very common practice, lol.
 
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