What's in your personal EMT bag?

RebelAngel

RebelAngel

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Do you bring it on all calls or have it tucked away in your vehicle (or somewhere) specifically for emergencies not related to you being on call?

What do you have on your person while working?

Links to products are appreciated, if that's allowed.
 
Well, right now there is just air in it, as its just an empty bag. Hoping to change that soon however:D
 
Definitely getting a knife and trauma shears.

Do you all think it's worth it to drop a couple hundred dollars on a cardiology stethoscope? I asked someone else that has been doing EMS for years and years about stethoscopes and that's what was recommended to me. I would like to have one suitable for adults and infants/children and he said that one is good for both.

Keep in mind I'll be volunteering for EMS in a rural area. We don't charge for EMS services, it's through taxes, so we our squad may not have a lot of money for the most recent, more expensive equipment. I can't drop thousands of dollars on my personal bag right off the bat but I can invest to get a good quality piece of vital equipment.
 
I would recommend a good stethoscope. I have a Littmann Cardiology III that I've used for years. I think I got it for $150 or so. I've never been able to hear breath sounds with the crappy, double lumen stethoscopes with damaged diaphragms that we have on our boxes. You don't need one of the several hundred to thousand dollar steths, though.

I've also heard good things about UltraScopes. They tend to be significantly cheaper than Littmanns, too.
 
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Band-Aids, neosporin, some 4X4s, one long gauze bandage, a CPR mask and a few pairs of gloves. Everything fits in a small shoebox-sized plastic bin with lid. Who does it get used on most? Me & my kids! It's more a "my family's first aid" box than a "Ricky Rescue ZOMG I'M AN EMT!!!!" box.

I do have a Littman II that, when I'm not at work, lives in that box too. I've never used it outside of work, and don't really plan to. When I'm at work, everything I need is provided for me in the Big White Truck (or red if we're in a reserve unit). When I'm not at work the best thing I can do for someone who REALLY needs help is call 911 (and/or start CPR, hence why I do have the CPR mask). I will gladly do that whenever necessary. I will not go so far as to carry NPAs/OPAs, O2, splints, etc. That's money I don't need to spend in gear for my own personal vehicle.
 
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RebelAngel said:
Do you all think it's worth it to drop a couple hundred dollars on a cardiology stethoscope?
Click to expand...

The difference between a $50 Littmann Classic II and a $150 Littmann Cardiology is like the difference between wearing a $10,000 Rolex and a $35 Timex.

The Timex works just fine and is easily replaced.
 
Are you like talking about a jumpbag that you keep in your car for emergencies? Or a bag that you take in with you to work that has personal equipment?

As far as jumpbag, I just keep a small first aid kit for myself and anyone around me. You're much, much more likely to be treating a friend/family member than a random stranger. Just things in a standard first aid kit--bandaids, gauze, etc. I try not to keep like neosporin or meds in it b/c idk how they handle in the summer heat.

As far as a personal bag I take in with me, it has my stethoscope, a penlight, and a "tactical" flashlight. My knife is already on my person as are my wallet, keys, phone, and headphones (for the ride back if we transport--some hospitals are over an hour away!). If I'm not wearing it, I also keep a hat in there so if I'm not in uniform and responding to a backup run, when I inevitably transport and get to the hospital, I don't look like I'm a random guy trying to go in the ambulance entrance past security!

Some people also keep trauma shears and a towel in their bag, but the truck has trauma shears and towels and there are towels all over our station so I don't feel the need to bring a personal one.

Everything in my personal bag fits in a little drawstring athletic bag that can go on my back--you know the kind i'm talking about that you might take with you to the gym if you're already changed into workout clothes.
 
Halothane said:
The difference between a $50 Littmann Classic II and a $150 Littmann Cardiology is like the difference between wearing a $10,000 Rolex and a $35 Timex.

The Timex works just fine and is easily replaced.
Click to expand...

Ohhh... I disagree with that a whole lot!

I have both, and the difference between what I hear out of it is like night and day! But it also depends on what you are using it for. As a med student, I'm listening to heart sounds and you won't need that in the field. The only advantage of the Cardio III, at least that I've found in EMS, is that I can still hear a blood pressure with the Cardio III when I'm on the side of the interstate or with a helicopter landing. None of the other steths i've used can do that and I had to rely on a palp.

Using the watch example, the difference is more like a $10 kids digital watch and a $50 runner's watch. The Rolex is just for show when compared to the timex, but the runners watch does the same thing as the digital watch but has more functions and is more durable. The questions is just if you need those extra functions or not!
 
I was talking about a bag for work, but having a jumpbag is a good idea. I do keep a very small first aid kit in my youngest's diaper bag already. I could easy transfer those things over and add a few other things.

WuLabsWuTecH said:
Are you like talking about a jumpbag that you keep in your car for emergencies? Or a bag that you take in with you to work that has personal equipment?

As far as jumpbag, I just keep a small first aid kit for myself and anyone around me. You're much, much more likely to be treating a friend/family member than a random stranger. Just things in a standard first aid kit--bandaids, gauze, etc. I try not to keep like neosporin or meds in it b/c idk how they handle in the summer heat.

As far as a personal bag I take in with me, it has my stethoscope, a penlight, and a "tactical" flashlight. My knife is already on my person as are my wallet, keys, phone, and headphones (for the ride back if we transport--some hospitals are over an hour away!). If I'm not wearing it, I also keep a hat in there so if I'm not in uniform and responding to a backup run, when I inevitably transport and get to the hospital, I don't look like I'm a random guy trying to go in the ambulance entrance past security!

Some people also keep trauma shears and a towel in their bag, but the truck has trauma shears and towels and there are towels all over our station so I don't feel the need to bring a personal one.

Everything in my personal bag fits in a little drawstring athletic bag that can go on my back--you know the kind i'm talking about that you might take with you to the gym if you're already changed into workout clothes.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the input!

WuLabsWuTecH said:
Ohhh... I disagree with that a whole lot!

I have both, and the difference between what I hear out of it is like night and day! But it also depends on what you are using it for. As a med student, I'm listening to heart sounds and you won't need that in the field. The only advantage of the Cardio III, at least that I've found in EMS, is that I can still hear a blood pressure with the Cardio III when I'm on the side of the interstate or with a helicopter landing. None of the other steths i've used can do that and I had to rely on a palp.

Using the watch example, the difference is more like a $10 kids digital watch and a $50 runner's watch. The Rolex is just for show when compared to the timex, but the runners watch does the same thing as the digital watch but has more functions and is more durable. The questions is just if you need those extra functions or not!
Click to expand...
 
An EMT?:blink:
 
WuLabsWuTecH said:
Ohhh... I disagree with that a whole lot!

I have both, and the difference between what I hear out of it is like night and day! But it also depends on what you are using it for. As a med student, I'm listening to heart sounds and you won't need that in the field. The only advantage of the Cardio III, at least that I've found in EMS, is that I can still hear a blood pressure with the Cardio III when I'm on the side of the interstate or with a helicopter landing. None of the other steths i've used can do that and I had to rely on a palp.

Using the watch example, the difference is more like a $10 kids digital watch and a $50 runner's watch. The Rolex is just for show when compared to the timex, but the runners watch does the same thing as the digital watch but has more functions and is more durable. The questions is just if you need those extra functions or not!
Click to expand...

A med student and a volunteer EMT student need very different things from a stethoscope.

I don't deny that you can hear mo betta with a betta scope; the point was that for 90% of all clinicians and 100% of basic EMT's, a cheap scope provides all the capability one needs. I try not to recommend that people spend lots of money on something they don't need, especially something that can easily be lost or stolen.

The Timex vs. Rolex analogy stands, because for just about anyone other than a med student an expensive scope is purely for show.

In OR's an ICU's all over, everyone uses the super-cheap disposable scopes that come in a plastic bag and have to be assembled before use. Yes the sound quality is lacking, but still they work just fine for the vast majority of what anyone needs from a stethoscope, and every RN, RRT, and MD doesn't have to lay out $150-$200 of their personal money to buy something that could easily be misplaced and everyone doesn't have a fomite hanging around their neck all day long transmitting germs from patient to patient.
 
for a jump bag for your volunteer squad?

I would suggest looking at your state requirements of equipment required to be carried on the truck.

Our First in BLS bag consists of enough supplies to initially treat and assess most injuries, complaints accordingly

Our jumpbag consists of
1. BP Cuff/Sethescope They have a ADC not a bad scope relatively inexpensive
2. Oxygen Delivery devices - 2 Nasal cannulas/2NRB masks.
3. Oxygen Cylinder Class D.
4. Trauma Shears, pen light. 2 tubes of oral glucose
5. 4x4s about 5 of them, tape *hypoallergenic* abdominal pads, burn blanket, kerlex, occlusive dressings, and a 2 cravats.
6. 2 bottles of sterile water for irrigation
7. Airway supplies, 5 different size Oral adjuncts, and 5 different size Nasal Airways. along with lube to insert
8. BVM mask.

That's more than enough to provide immediate interventions until you can move to the ambulance.

As far as for at home. A commercial first aid kit. that comes in those nice plastic containers suits me fine. More often than not I just need it for the kids or something like that.
 
RebelAngel said:
Do you bring it on all calls or have it tucked away in your vehicle (or somewhere) specifically for emergencies not related to you being on call?

What do you have on your person while working?

Links to products are appreciated, if that's allowed.
Click to expand...

My personal bag is a fairly well stocked BLS bag. It's rare that I need to bring it with me on calls; its more of a for family and friends type deal. It does ride in the trunk of my car, but in practice - I rarely need to take it out at the scene of a car accident, etc. Some of the most important interventions are the simplest, and while off duty, I'm not trying to replace the duty-crew, just keep patients stable/alive until they get there to take over.


While working, I carry the radio, a Streamlite Strion flashlight, cell phone, and gloves on my belt, along with some shears and extra pens usually in my pocket.
 
Halothane said:
A med student and a volunteer EMT student need very different things from a stethoscope.

I don't deny that you can hear mo betta with a betta scope; the point was that for 90% of all clinicians and 100% of basic EMT's, a cheap scope provides all the capability one needs. I try not to recommend that people spend lots of money on something they don't need, especially something that can easily be lost or stolen.

The Timex vs. Rolex analogy stands, because for just about anyone other than a med student an expensive scope is purely for show.

In OR's an ICU's all over, everyone uses the super-cheap disposable scopes that come in a plastic bag and have to be assembled before use. Yes the sound quality is lacking, but still they work just fine for the vast majority of what anyone needs from a stethoscope, and every RN, RRT, and MD doesn't have to lay out $150-$200 of their personal money to buy something that could easily be misplaced and everyone doesn't have a fomite hanging around their neck all day long transmitting germs from patient to patient.
Click to expand...


Just to add onto this, I concur that the needs of a EMT are very different from that of a med student. I have both a Classic II (which rides in my jump bag) and a Cardiology III (which is my day to day scope).

Having said that: although I appreciate that the Cardio III is a "better scope" - for EMS purposes, it makes very little difference (in my view). I find either one more than adequate for EMS use. If anything, I sometimes notice the Cardio III is so sensitive, I pick up background noise (i.e. the hum from the diesel engine) which seems to be less of a problem on the Classic II. Do heart tones sound better with the Cardio III - sure. But...that's not what we're doing in EMS.

For those reasons, I'm inclined to recommend the Classic II. Its an excellent, general practice scope and it saves a few bucks too!.
 
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