An EMT or paramedic or emergency medical technician is a competent professional that is trained to offer emergency medical services on the scene to those who are injured or critically ill. There are varieties of equipment used in emergency situations and are used by such experts.
Initially, the EMT experts were considered as ambulance attendants. But over the time their role has evolved and hence they now have to serve many more tasks that are of high importance. EMTs have to respond to numerous kinds of emergency calls. For this reason, they are offered practical training as well as made to acquire knowledge and skills to use different kinds of medical gears.
In order to complete their training as well as to cater to all kinds of emergency services easily, EMTs require specialized equipment. If you are an EMT trainee or student and want to know about the most important equipment used in this field then this article will tell you the same.
So, read here to know about the important tools required for paramedics and EMTs.
1.) EMT Tactical Boots
Most of the times you have to spend long hours standing and moving. In this situation, your boots are the only thing that would support your feet. Hence, they must be supportive and comfortable.
You need to select a good pair of boots that give you full support. Moreover, your boots must be breathable and waterproof. It is best if you purchase boots made of Gore-TEX, which is a breathable and waterproof material.
2.) Stethoscope
A staple medical gear for any paramedic or EMT is a stethoscope. It is a highly important EMT tool, which is needed to get the job done. There are cheap stethoscopes available in the market, but if you will buy one then you will not be able to carry an in-depth diagnosis of the patient.
It is wise to invest in a good quality stethoscope that allows you to precisely diagnose heart tones and lung sounds. Identifying such sounds can help an EMT know whether a patient is suffering from an asthma attack or experiencing COPD exacerbation.
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3.) Bag Valve Mask
Another device important for EMTs is a bag valve mask. This device is used to manually offer rescue breaths to a patient who is breathing interruptedly or unable to breathe at all. This mask is placed over the face of patients and squeezed by paramedic so that oxygen can flow into the lungs of the patients.
4.) A Jump Bag
A jump bag is the next important equipment for a paramedic and is used to carry all important surgical sundries including drips, bandages, medicines, syringes, and more. It is essential that the bag is of high-quality one so that it is possible to keep all the sundries intact with ease.
5.) Spinal or Trauma Board
The spinal or trauma boards are unpadded patient-handling catchy stretchers that are used to offer strong support in patients having suspected spinal injuries. Additionally, these tools are used in conjunction with head blocks or spider harness that can further secure patients to a board. The spinal or trauma boards can also be used with patients suffering from spinal injuries or to carry patients over a short distance.
6.) Suction Unit
A suction unit is a device that is used to suction fluids and secretions from the airway of patients. This is done to alleviate obstructions within the patient’s airway so that it does not lead to any respiratory complications.
The suction unit is attached to a sterile catheter through surgical tubing. This generates suction so that it is possible to section suctions from the airway of patients and the same is collected in the container attached to it.
7.) Incubator
Another important medical gear for EMTs is an incubator. It is used to keep neonates warm while being transported to and from the hospital. The neonates are kept inside the incubator that offers a safe and warm environment for the neonate as well as the babies transported inside the device during the trip. Special training is offered to paramedics to use incubators.
8.) ECG Monitor with Defibrillator
There are varieties of ECG models available. Some of them are automated basic models, while others are advanced multi-parameter monitors. The ECG monitor is used to track ECG of the patient and display it on the screen. Also, it is used to stun heart arrhythmias so that your normal electrical impulse is supplied to the heart and the heart is able to beat normally.
9.) Syringe Drivers and Infusion Pumps
These are important devices for paramedics as they control the rate of infusion. Usually, these devices are used by advanced life support paramedics when transferring patients between hospitals. Such devices control the rate of the fluid as well as medication, which is dropped from the drip. The amount and rate of fluid delivered through this device are controlled by altering the device settings.
10.) Hemogulcometer
It is another device that is commonly used by EMTs today. These devices are used to diagnose and serve a diabetic patient. It is also known as HGT meter and is used to check the blood glucose level of the patient. A small drop of the blood is dropped onto the disposable strip that is inserted into the monitor. After this, the blood glucose level of the patient is assessed and the same is displayed on its screen.
Bottom Line
These are some of the most important tools for EMTs or paramedics. Despite these tools, the equipment for EMTs may vary depending on the kind of care they are offering to the patients. Paramedics are offered training on how to use such equipment during their studies. Regular use of such equipment, as well as training, ensures that a paramedic develops the skills to use each and every medical gear correctly. So, if you are an EMT student or practitioner then make sure you have all these important gears with you.
Dr. David Taylor, MD, Ph.D, a registered medical professional, is the founder and owner of BestRatedDocs. He holds an M.D. from Drexel University & a Ph.D. from Indiana University School of Medicine. Dr. David loves to utilize technology to improve healthcare and he does it daily through BestRatedDocs.com. He founded the company in 2016 with the vision to make the discoverability of the best healthcare facilities & best products simple and easy.