There are numerous EMS essentials emergency medical services utilize to respond to emergencies and treat patients.
It includes personal protection, patient assessment/diagnostic devices, suction gear, airway management supplies, and bleed control/wound management tools.
This article covers the various EMS essentials, gear, and equipment specialists use to provide immediate emergency care.
EMS Pants
Adequate EMS pants enable EMTs and paramedics to remain secure and well-supplied during operations.
The most beneficial EMS pants utilize durable materials with comfortable construction to keep EMS well protected.
They also offer adequate pocket space for essentials like scissors, wound/airway management supplies, and other gear.
Finally, EMS pants provide a professional, uniform appearance, which is necessary for most emergency services industries.
Professional clothing enables patients to quickly identify EMS workers and provides a sense of trust and security.
EMS Boots
High-quality EMS boots serve several essential functions for emergency medical service work.
Firstly, these boots offer excellent durability and protection from environmental and hazardous dangers.
It includes safety from slick/wet surfaces, chemicals/electrical hazards, bodily fluids, falling/sharp objects, and other dangers.
They also protect EMS workers from foot injuries due to quick movements, moving heavy objects/people, and uneven terrain.
Lastly, EMS boots provide a unique appearance similar to their work shirt and pants.
It enables patients and other emergency services to identify EMS workers quickly.
Compression Socks
Not all EMS or healthcare workers wear compression socks.
Nevertheless, these stockings are relatively popular in various healthcare settings.
Well-designed compression socks provide support throughout the legs and lower body.
They improve blood flow and circulation, which is vital for people who spend long sessions sitting/standing.
As a result, compression socks accommodate various health conditions and disorders related to poor blood flow.
Benefits of Compression Socks:
- Reduces swelling in the legs
- It helps prevent/minimize varicose veins
- Reduces deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Assists in minimizing ulcers
- Aides individuals dealing with Lymphedema
- Improves blood flow and oxygenation
- Enhances recovery time of achy/sore muscles
- Assists with lactic acid build-up and leg fatigue
EMS workers use compression socks before, during, or after shifts to maintain adequate circulation.
It’s great for support during work or recovery after completing their work shift.
Finally, a foot care specialist or physician may prescribe custom compression socks to help with injury or surgery recovery.
Face Mask / Face Shield
Face masks/shields protect healthcare workers from hazardous materials, bacteria, respiratory droplets, and bodily fluids.
As a result, these essential tools play a vital role in keeping healthcare workers safe from viruses and other dangers.
EMS workers face exposure to chemicals and viruses around the mouth, nose, and eyes without proper face protection.
Protecting healthcare workers is extremely important to maintain their safety and protect those they serve.
Eye Protection
Eye protection includes face shields, goggles, and protective glasses.
These tools play a similar role as face masks by preventing physical hazards, debris, and chemicals from entering the eyes.
Nevertheless, the rugged construction of eye protection gear ensures adequate protection from solid objects.
EMS workers may wear goggles or protective glasses with a face mask or eye protection under a face shield for added coverage.
Disposable Gloves
Disposable gloves protect a healthcare worker’s hands from exposure to hazardous chemicals, viruses, diseases, and germs.
These handy essentials prevent dangerous chemicals/diseases from entering the body through cuts or other exposed areas.
They also help protect against cross-contamination when managing various equipment or helping several patients.
A safe, clean, and sterile environment are necessary to minimize the spreading of harmful bacteria, viruses, and diseases.
Disposable gloves are inexpensive, highly protective, and easy to use.
Biohazard Bags
Biohazard bags help isolate dangerous materials, viruses, and diseases so they don’t harm people.
EMS workers use these bags to dispose of tools, materials, and items carrying viruses, diseases, or hazardous substances.
The biohazard bags are appropriately stored until they can be disposed of to destroy unsafe substances they may contain.
Most normal disposable bags do not provide the design and safety features necessary to contain harmful things.
As a result, healthcare workers must utilize specialized biohazard bags to contain and dispose of waste properly.
Disinfectant Solution
Healthcare workers use disinfectant solutions to keep their gear, equipment, tools, and essentials clean, sterile, and safe.
These chemicals help remove harmful substances, viruses, and bacteria that may infect people.
Most facilities and departments utilize specialized disinfectant solutions to sterilize equipment appropriately.
Standard cleaning solutions may not offer adequate chemicals to eliminate germs properly or prevent corrosion.
Therefore, specialized disinfecting solutions are vital for the safety and protection of healthcare workers and their patients.
Medical Friendly Watch
Medical-friendly watches play an essential role in the daily operation of nurses and EMS workers.
These vital tools enable healthcare workers to manage various work-related duties.
It includes tracking/recording patient vitals, scheduling/administering medications, and maintaining documentation.
Medical-friendly watches also keep healthcare workers in contact through notifications and phone calls.
Finally, some watches offer \ applications to manage scheduling, access health information, and receive reminders.
Why Healthcare Workers Wear Watches:
- Track/record patient vitals
- Schedule/administer medications
- Perform pain assessments
- Documentation/lab charting
- Keep track of the time
- Receive essential notifications
- Work communication
- Healthcare applications
- Personal health tracking
Bandage Scissors / Trauma Shears
Premium bandage scissors and trauma shears cut through rigid materials to access wounds and remove hard restraints.
It enables EMS workers, nurses, and other healthcare specialists to treat patients’ injuries quickly.
For instance, bandage scissors provide safe cutting angles so healthcare workers can access wounds and replace bandages.
Trauma shears safely cut through jeans, seatbelts, and other rigid materials to enable EMS to treat patients quickly.
Each tool has specific capabilities to provide fast and safe access to body parts, so patients promptly receive medical care.
Stethoscope
A high-quality stethoscope is one of the most prominent essentials in a healthcare worker’s inventory.
These medical tools enable nurses, physicians, and EMS workers to monitor their patient’s hearts, lungs, and organs.
A good stethoscope will easily detect irregular heartbeats, arrhythmias, bruits, and murmurs.
They also identify breathing issues, potential airway blockages, certain bowel sounds, and intestinal health problems.
BP Cuff / Sphygmomanometer
Sphygmomanometers and BP cuffs enable healthcare workers to perform accurate blood pressure readings.
These tools are essential for identifying, monitoring, and treating various blood pressure-related health conditions.
Medical equipment monitors patients on board ambulances and mobile medical transport units.
However, BP cuffs and sphygmomanometers provide reliable assessments outside transport units or other emergencies.
Thermometer
A reliable digital thermometer lets healthcare workers quickly identify a person’s body temperature.
As a result, they’re vital to ensuring patients remain in stable condition in medical emergencies or during treatment.
Detecting abnormally high or low body temperate may indicate the need for immediate medical intervention.
Without knowing a person’s temperature, assessing, diagnosing, and treating their condition is much more difficult.
Pulse Oximeter
Pulse oximeters provide an inexpensive and quick way to monitor an individual’s pulse rate and blood oxygen levels.
These tools allow healthcare workers to determine whether a person’s blood oxygen level is impaired.
Low or declining saturation levels may put a person’s organs in danger resulting in long-term health issues or death.
Accordingly, EMS and other specialists use pulse oximetry to determine whether to provide immediate intervention.
Pulmonary oximetry devices offer excellent vital monitoring when used with other medical equipment.
First Aid Equipment
First aid equipment is essential in emergency medical services work.
It enables EMS workers to provide life-saving interventions until patients receive further care at a healthcare facility.
EMS use various airway management equipment like pocket, transparent, and non-rebreather masks.
They also employ nasal cannula, disposable nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal airways, and oxygen units.
Besides that, EMS utilizes different bleed control and wound management tools.
It includes gauze, bandages and dressings, saline solutions, arterial tourniquets, syringes, and other equipment.
Having appropriate and essential first aid equipment is necessary for all ambulatory workers.
As a result, EMS workers adequately prepare themselves by reviewing this equipment before, during, and after shifts.