Emergency medical equipment

The emergency medical team encounters a variety of situations on a daily basis. Appeals are often related to heart attack, traumatic injury to the head and other parts of the body, fractures of limbs, premature births. In order to professionally provide medical care in all conditions, specialized equipment is needed. When the patient is outside the hospital, the doctor's capabilities are limited. Modern equipment for emergency medical care greatly simplifies the process and improves the quality of patient care. 

Types of ambulances

Today, the provision of emergency assistance to injured and sick people is available almost anywhere a special car can approach. Often these are places of transportation accidents, private houses and apartments. The equipment of the ambulance is regulated at the legislative level. Types of apparatus, devices and medical equipment depend on the class of the car:

• Class A. Transport. Special vehicles are designed for the transportation of patients to the hospital. Usually there is no provision for medical assistance in this case. It is only a question of transporting the patient under the supervision of a doctor. The equipment includes a ventilator, infusion therapy set and an obstetrician. 
• Class B. Emergency care. Unlike Class A vehicles, Class B vehicles have emergency medical equipment that a doctor uses as intended while transporting an injured or ill person. On the way to the medical facility, doctors measure the patient's vital signs, perform manipulations. An obligatory attribute of the class B ambulance is an electrocardiograph, which is designed to assess cardiac activity. In the car of this class also install portable ultrasound diagnostic devices, pulse oximeters and glucometers, biochemical analyzers and urine analyzers. 
• Class C. Resuscitation. A vehicle with an expanded set of equipment. A resuscitation ambulance is equipped with apparatus and devices that help to restore disturbed body functions and bring patients back to life. The equipment includes multifunctional and specialized devices that make the heart beat again, and the lungs breathe. In the resuscitation vehicle a defibrillator and inhalation anesthesia machine, which is designed for dosed delivery of anesthetic mixture to the respiratory organs of the patient.

On the quality of the equipment depends on the speed and efficiency of the work of the team staff. In advanced diagnostic and resuscitation systems, there is minimal involvement of personnel. Often the doctor's task is reduced to turning on the device and selecting settings. Modern equipment with intelligent software independently performs diagnostics and analyzes the results. 

What the ambulance is equipped with

To understand what the ambulance is equipped with, you need to consider the class of the special vehicle. Class C vehicles are characterized by the greatest equipment. What should be in the ambulance:

• Portable defibrillator. The device is designed to eliminate a disorder of the heart rhythm. Some types of arrhythmias are life-threatening. The device generates an electrical impulse that reaches the heart and causes the heart muscle to contract, followed by restoration of normal rhythm.
• Portable electrocardiograph. A model equipped with a built-in battery is a mandatory Class B and C emergency medical equipment. Modern portable devices simultaneously record data from 12 leads, display and print information. Some modifications provide an option for remote data transfer to a personal computer, which allows you to conduct a consilium online. 
• Autonomous ventilator. The device is designed to forcefully supply the patient's lungs with a gas mixture based on oxygen. The device is used to restore the normal supply of oxygen to the tissues of the body and the removal of carbon dioxide. Modern models are equipped with a display that shows the operating characteristics. Adjustable parameters include the frequency of respiratory movements, the volume of the gas mixture supplied to the lungs, the speed of the air flow. 
• Oxygen cylinders. If the patient's breathing is difficult, he is connected to a ventilator. Oxygen cylinders are required to keep the device running. Alternative ways to restore a normal supply of oxygen to organs and tissues include breathing through a nasal cannula or surgical mask that is connected to an oxygen cylinder. 
• Autonomous hematology analyzers. Devices that analyze a patient's blood sample promptly in automatic mode. Models are connected to a battery, which allows you to conduct diagnostic studies in the absence of a stationary electrical outlet. With the help of the device make a general or biochemical blood analysis. The doctor promptly receives information about blood oxygen saturation, hemoglobin and glucose content. 
• Portable X-ray device. Allows you to quickly make pictures of internal organs, bone structures, parts of the musculoskeletal system. Radiography is shown to victims of an accident or attack in case of signs of damage to the spine and broken bones. 

Dealing with the topic of what is in the ambulance, you should not forget about the means that are designed for the transportation of the patient. A cart on a wheeled base, which is transformed into a stretcher, is necessarily included in the standard set of equipment of the SMP car. Usually, the cart has adjustable height and the possibility of changing the position of the patient's body - half-lying, lying, sitting. The gurney is loaded into the car by a hinged panel. The cart is equipped with straps that are designed to fix the patient's body, and ergonomic handles for the attendant. 

What is in the ambulance

Ambulance ambulance equipment includes means of securing injured parts of the patient's body. The kit includes fixators for the neck, torso, arms and legs. The restraints vary in size so that they can be used for adult patients and children. What's in the ambulance:

• An attachment for immobilizing the head, cervical and thoracic spine. Designed for diagnostic examination using X-ray or ultrasound machines. 
• Pharmaceuticals. The list of drugs that are in the ambulance includes adrenomimetics, adsorbents, nitroglycerin, antiarrhythmic drugs, analgesics, local anesthetics and myorelaxants, antihistamines and antiseptic drugs. Equipment of resuscitation machines includes substitutes of plasma and other blood fractions. 
• Dressing materials - bandages, kits, tissues, wipes and bandages. Dressing materials vary in size, are sterile and non-sterile. An obligatory element of equipment - sets of bandages, designed for unloading and fixation of the forearm and shoulder. 
• Thermal blanket. A rescue blanket that protects the victim from hypothermia or overheating. Due to the increased strength of the material, the blanket can be used for patient transportation. 
• Drip systems, needles and syringes. Consumables necessary for quality emergency care of patients. Syringes vary in volume - usually between 2-20 ml. 

Kits with a manual ventilator, various holders, resuscitation masks, hoses are on the list of things that should be in the ambulance. 

Kits for completing ambulances

Listing what is in the ambulance, it is worth noting separately special kits of narrow purpose. Kits can contain splints for immobilization, dressings for patients with burns, non-sterile and sterile dressings. Other kits:

• For performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Kit includes supraglottic airway, gastric tube, sachet with lubricant to lubricate components before insertion, securing straps. 
• Obstetrical. The set includes operating room covers of different sizes, shoe covers, absorbent diapers. The set contains instruments - clamps, gynecological mirror, probes, scissors, hooks and curettes, forceps and cryonclast for fetal extraction. 
• Anti-Epidemiologic. The kit includes special clothing made of dense, waterproof material that protects medical personnel from infection through contact with the patient. The kit contains a smock, high shoe covers, apron, protective helmet, and mask. 

Complete sets significantly simplify the work of ambulance staff, improve safety and quality of patient care. 

Additional equipment for ambulance service

Auxiliary equipment of the ambulance includes bactericidal and operating lamps, which provide sterility and illumination during medical manipulations. Other types of ancillary equipment include:

• A battery-powered flashlight that attaches to the physician's head.
• A navigator for finding an address or location quickly and accurately.
• Metal cabinets for storing instruments, drugs and equipment. 

The equipment of SMP machines includes means for disinfecting surfaces and hands, bags and containers for garbage, aspiration equipment, which is designed to remove fluids from the patient's lungs. Mandatory devices are a tonometer, phonendoscope, infusion pump and compressor inhaler. The use of certified advanced equipment and quality consumables increases the efficiency of emergency care and prevents undesirable consequences, such as failure of devices at a critical moment.