In the fallout of an emergency medical situation, the right equipment needs to be accessible. This is where crash carts come in.
What is a crash cart?
You may have seen them on TV shows, in movies or even in real life, but crash carts are the silent heroes of any emergency medical situation. These portable carts are used in a wide range of emergency scenarios, such as emergency code situations, resuscitation, and when life-saving medication is needed urgently. Essentially, these little lifesavers carry the medication, the equipment and apparatus trained medical professionals need to save lives and to offer life support as quickly as possible.
What are the contents?
Unsurprisingly, crash cart contents are filled with the essentials for saving and preserving life. Contents may vary depending on the facility it’s used in. However, you’ll find an array of life-saving essentials in every crash cart. Let’s take a look at what you might find in a crash cart:
The top of the cart:
At the top of the cart, you’ll find a defibrillator and the electrode pads that are ready to be used in an emergency scenario. Although not all carts store their defibrillator and electrode pads on the top of the cart. This life-saving apparatus is within reach and ready to be used.
The top drawer:
In the top drawer of the crash cart, you’ll find an array of pharmaceuticals used for preserving life and maintaining life support. You may find adults medications in the top drawer and if pediatric drugs are stocked in an adult crash cart they would be found in a separate drawer to avoid confusion. You may find that drugs used for cardiac arrest are kept in the front of the drawer for easy access and others are organized in rows for simplicity and swiftness. Medications you might find in a crash cart include:
– Adenosine
– Atropine
– Calcium Chloride
– Dextrose
– Dopamine
– Dobutamine
– Nitro-glycerine
And many more.
The next drawer down:
Below the medications, you’re likely to find the breathing apparatus, used to establish and maintain breathing and the preservation of life. Again, adult and pediatric equipment will probably be stored separately. In a typical crash cart, you’re likely to find the following breathing apparatus:
– Tracheostomy tubes
– Oral and Nasal airway tubes
– Oxygen flowmeters
– Laryngoscope supplies
– Suction equipment
– Cannulas
And many more.
In other drawers
Many crash carts contain procedure kits (often in the bottom drawer) that can be used when a particular emergency code has been announced. These kits will be filled with apparatus and equipment related to a specific procedure. You’ll also find storage for other pieces of equipment used to aid specific procedures, including gauze and IV start kits, syringes, IV solutions and tubes, examination gloves and alcohol swabs.
Additional features
Crash carts can also have additional accessories mounted to the side or the top of them. Including oxygen tank brackets, IV poles and other brackets for sharps bins and baskets.
Final thoughts…
The right kind of crash cart is essential for your facility, therefore choosing a provider with decades of experience with crash carts is essential.
