What is an Emergency crash cart ?

A crash cart is a medical cart equipped with medical equipment, supplies, and drugs used during emergencies, such as cardiac arrest, respiratory distress and severe allergic reactions. Here at Medik, we offer a range of emergency crash carts to prepare your healthcare facility and staff for medical emergencies.

Common accessories of crash cart

Common accessories on a crash cart that aid in organizing and accessing emergency supplies include:

1. Storage Box: Holds small items and supplies for easy access.

2. Garbage Can: Allows quick disposal of used items, maintaining a clean workspace.

3. IV Pole: Supports intravenous fluid bags and ensures IV access is readily available.

4. Defibrillator Shelf: Provides a stable space to store the defibrillator/monitor for easy access during cardiac emergencies.

5. CPR Board: Offers a rigid surface that can be placed under a patient for effective chest compressions.

6. Oxygen Tank Holder: Secures an oxygen tank to provide supplemental oxygen as needed.

7. AC Plug Outlet Strip: Supplies power to equipment like monitors or defibrillators.

8. Slide-Out Surface: Offers additional workspace for procedures or preparation.

9. Waste Container: A dedicated container for disposing of used or contaminated items.

These accessories enhance the functionality and organization of a crash cart, making it easier for healthcare providers to respond quickly and efficiently during emergencies.

Benefits of Emergency crash cart

Crash carts offer crucial support in healthcare settings, especially in life-threatening emergencies, by ensuring that essential tools and medications are readily available. Their primary benefits include:

Rapid Response: By centralizing essential emergency supplies, crash carts allow healthcare providers to deliver swift interventions, minimizing response time during critical situations. This quick access to tools and medications can make a significant difference in patient outcomes.

Accessibility: Positioned in strategic locations across healthcare facilities, crash carts make emergency supplies easy to access, allowing staff to locate them quickly without wasting time searching for individual items.

Versatility: Crash carts are customizable to fit the needs of different departments, such as cardiac, pediatric, or trauma care.This adaptability ensures that each cart is specifically equipped to handle the most likely emergencies for a given area, improving response effectiveness.

Patient Safety: With crash carts, healthcare providers have immediate access to life-saving equipment, enhancing the ability to stabilize patients and provide timely, critical care, which is essential for patient safety.

Typical items found on a crash cart include:

Crash carts are equipped with a range of essential items to handle a variety of medical emergencies. Each item in a crash cart is typically organized in designated compartments, ensuring healthcare professionals can access the needed tools quickly and efficiently during emergencies.Standard items in a emergency crash cart include:

Airway and Breathing Supplies:

1. Endotracheal tubes (various sizes)

2. Laryngoscope with blades and spare batteries

3. Bag-valve-mask (BVM) resuscitator

4. Oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airways

5. Suction device with suction catheters and tubing

6. Oxygen masks, nasal cannulas, and tubing

Medications:

1. Epinephrine, atropine, lidocaine, and other emergency drugs

2. Cardiovascular drugs like adenosine, amiodarone, and vasopressors

3. Sedatives, analgesics, and anticonvulsants

4. Syringes, needles, and IV start kits for medication administration

Intravenous (IV) Supplies:

1. IV catheters (various sizes)

2. IV fluids such as saline and Ringer's lactate

3. IV tubing and extension sets

4. Alcohol swabs, tourniquets, and gauze

Defibrillation and Monitoring Equipment：

1. Automated external defibrillator (AED) or manual defibrillator

2. Electrocardiogram (ECG) electrodes and leads

3. Blood pressure cuff and stethoscope

Basic Resuscitation Supplies:

1. Adhesive tape and dressings

2. Gloves, masks, and gowns for infection control

3. Scissors and forceps

4. Gauze pads, bandages, and antiseptics

Other Emergency Tools:

1. Needle decompression kit for tension pneumothorax

2. Chest tubes and insertion kits for emergencies

3. Portable pulse oximeter

4. Penlight for neurological checks

5. Thermometer and glucometer

In summary, crash carts support healthcare providers by ensuring fast, reliable access to emergency tools and medications, boosting response times, reducing errors, and ultimately, improving patient care.