Appendix C - EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR AMBULANCES
The Department of Health's Office of Emergency Medical Services has established the following equipment list as the recommended minimum necessary for ground ambulances involved in the transportation or treatment of ill or injured patients in the prehospital setting.
Basic Life Support
Airway Management and Ventilation:
. Oxygen tank - fixed (minimum capacity of 3,000 liters with reduction gauge and flow meter) and portable with regulator.
. Oxygen masks in infant, child and adult sizes.
. Nasal cannulas in child and adult sizes.
. Oral airways; infant, child and adult sizes.
. Nasopharyngeal airways with lubricant; infant, child and adult sizes.
. Self-inflating resuscitation bags; with oxygen reservoir. Infant, child and adult sizes.
. Masks for use with resuscitation bags; neonate, infant, child and adult sizes.
. Oxygen connecting tubing.
. Portable suction unit with various tonsillar and flexible suction catheters.
. Bite stick s.
Patient Assessment:
. Blood pressure cuff, infant, child and adult sizes.
. Stethoscope; infant and adult.
. Flashlight/penlight (with extra batteries and bulbs).
. Thermometer with hypothermia capacity
Obstetrics:
. Sterile pre-packaged OB delivery kit.
. Thermal absorbent blanket and head cover.
Immobilization:
. Traction splint - child and adult.
. Firm upper and lower extremity splints to include joint above and below injury, rigid with padding.
. Backboard with appropriate securing straps; pediatric and adult sizes.
. Spinal immobilization device; such as KED.
. Rigid cervical collars; pediatric and adult sizes.
. Triangular bandages - minimum of six (6).
. Scoop type stretcher
Personal Protection:
. Infectious disease prevention materials - gloves, goggles or face shields, masks, gowns, boots or shoe covers, appropriate disinfectants.
. Sharp object disposable containers which can be permanently be sealed when full.
. Antiseptic hand wipes.
. Hearing protection.
. HEPA mask.
. Appropriate mask with one-way valve & appropriate filter.
. Minimum of a Level C protective suit.
. Traffic safety vest.
Bandaging:
. Burn package - includes sterile sheets or towels for children.
. Sterile trauma dressings of various sizes - 5 x 9; 8 x 10.
. Sterile gauze bandages of various sizes.
. Adhesive tape in various sizes.
. Elastic bandages in various sizes.
Communications:
. Two-way communication equipment between dispatcher, ambulance and medical facity.
Other:
. Sterile saline irrigation fluid.
. Bandage/trauma shears.
. Disposable basins or emesis bags.
. Disposable bedpan and urinal.
. Stretcher, main; shall be four-wheeled elevating cot for primary patient with appropriate patient restraining device.
. Activated charcoal as directed by physician medical director.
. Patient restraints as directed by physician medical director.
. Sugar cubes or hypertonic sugar solution.
. Cold Packs
. Blankets.
. Disaster/triage tags.
. Warning flares and /or signal devices.
. Fire extinguisher.
Optional:
. Automatic external defibrillator (AED) - strongly recommended for systems that lack immediate response from an advanced life support service.
. Length-based tape or chart for pediatric equipment sizing such as Broselow type tape.
. Pulse oximetry .
. Protective helmets.
. Protective coat with reflective materials.
. Scissors capable of cutting heavy metal.
. Pediatric transport chair.
. Ring cutter.
. Tweezers (splinter).
. Portable trauma kits for treating patients away from the ambulance.
. Eye wash.
. Self-assisted medications as outlined in the basic EMT curriculum - ambulance service's physician medical director must authorize ambulance service to stock.
. Pedi-wheel.
. Small stuffed toy.
It is highly recommended that pediatric equipment be maintained in a separate jump kit from the adult equipment.
Advanced Life Support
(In addition to Basic Life Support)
Airway Management and Ventilation:
. Laryngoscope handle with extra batteries and bulbs; pediatric and adult.
. Laryngoscope blades - sizes 0, 1 and 2 straight - sizes 3 and 4 straight or curved.
. Endotracheal tubes (minimum of 2 each size) - sizes 2.5 to 5.0 mm uncuffed - 5.5 to 8.0 mm cuffed.
. Combitube or similar Division approved multi-lumen lower airway adjunct.
. Stylettes for endotracheal tubes; pediatric and adult.
. Magill forceps - pediatric and adult.
. Lubricating jelly (water soluble).
. Nasogastric tubes - pediatric sizes 5F and 8F - adult sizes 14F, 16F, and 18F.
. End-tidal CO2 detectors or esophageal detector devices.
Monitor/Defibrillator:
. Portable, battery-operated, cardiac monitoring defibrillator with recorder, quick- look paddles or hands-free patches, pediatric and adult electrodes and paddles, with capability to provide electrical discharge below 25 watt-seconds.
Vascular access:
. Intravenous catheters, 14g - 22 g.
. Intraosseous needles or devices.
. Tourniquets - constricting bands.
. Syringes of various sizes
. Needles; sizes 14g - 24g.
. Blood sample tubes; adult and pediatric.
. Intravenous administration sets - micro/macro/adjustable flow rate sets
. Intravenous securing devices.
Medications: The Office of Emergency Medical Services shall maintain separate lists of approved medication for the EMT-Intermediate and Paramedic ambulance services.
It is recommended that pediatric medications/equipment be maintained in a separate jump kit from the adult medications/equipment.
Effective 12/8/2008