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In a medical emergency, the difference between life and death can be a fraction of a second. A mobile crash cart or emergency medication cart, allows medical staff quick and easy access to lifesaving medical equipment and medications, giving them the precious seconds to respond to coding patients. To learn more about crash carts and how they can work for your facility, here is a guide to the essential features and medications to have in your crash cart.
Benefits of Crash Carts
Crash carts were created out of a necessity to have the equipment on hand to respond to cardiac or respiratory failure. Over the years, advances in medical technology have been integrated into crash carts, so they now offer even bigger benefits for both medical staff and patients.
Essential Equipment in a Single Location
Moving patients during cardiac or respiratory failure can cause severe damage and endanger the life of the patient; however, medical staff may need access to many types of equipment during an emergency. Crash carts keep all essential emergency equipment and medications in a single location, removing the need to transport patients and saving precious time.
Mobile
Emergencies can happen anytime and, in any place, and crash carts with wheels offer a mobile solution to ensure that lifesaving medical treatments are always within reach and it also means that the patient does not need to be moved. Not only are carts ergonomically designed and feature a slim profile for fitting into tight spaces, swiveling wheels offer exceptional maneuverability so that carts can be taken almost anywhere around your facility.
Durable
Emergency medical equipment can be sensitive and prone to damage during the stress of an emergency. A crash cart is constructed from durable powder coated material and stainless steel for improved durability and easy care and maintenance.
Accessible
Medical staff must have the right equipment and medications at their fingertips in the case of an emergency. Crash carts and mobile medication carts feature a large top workspace for housing equipment such as a defibrillator, allowing for immediate access.
Crash carts also feature multiple drawers for storing medications and IV and intubation equipment. Crash cart drawers can be fitted with electronic locks for security and also come in a range of dimensions to suit your facility.
Versatile
Though crash carts are predominantly used during an emergency, they can also be used as point of care carts to manage the overall care of your patients. In addition to essential equipment for reviving and resuscitating patients, crash carts can be installed with computer technology to allow access to electronic patient data, turning it into a central information hub for medical staff when not in emergency use.
Improve Quality of Care
Crash carts are designed to improve the efficiency of staff during an emergency. This improved workflow consequently enhances the quality of care and patient health outcomes.
For crash carts fitted with computers, electronic access to patient records and medical history can speed up staff’s emergency response time and prevent diagnosis and dosage errors.
Essential Features of Crash Carts
While the content of crash carts can differ from facility to facility, there are some must-have features that all carts should have that can help your staff to perform emergency life-saving procedures more effectively.
Defibrillator and Heart Monitor
Cardiac arrest is one of the most common codes that requires the use of a crash cart. The defibrillator and heart monitor are typically kept on the top of the cart for the easiest access. Spare defibrillator pads and gel are also stored on top of the cart.
Portable Suction Machine
During respiratory failure in which the airway is blocked is it essential that the airway be cleared as quickly as possible. A portable suction machine located on the outside of the crash cart can quickly remove obstructions allowing staff to either restore regular breathing or prepare for intubation.
Computer
As patient data is becoming increasingly digitized, computers are becoming a necessary piece of equipment for every crash cart. Fast access to electronic patient data can prevent life-threatening misdiagnoses and reduce errors during emergency procedures.
A computer installed on a crash cart can also be an effective way to track crash carts and improve crash cart preparedness. An electronic tracking system can replace paper logs to monitor equipment and medication levels and send electronic notifications to staff to indicate when to check the cart and when to replace items.
Oxygen Tank and Masks
In cases of respiratory failure, oxygen may need to be administered, so a full and easily accessible oxygen tank and mas are essential pieces of equipment to have on your crash cart. The oxygen tank should be securely fastened to the side of the cart with an approved strap, and the tank levels need to be closely monitored to ensure that there is always oxygen in the tank.
Bins
The risk of infection and injury increase during an emergency procedure, so bins are a must-have feature of any crash cart to maintain a hygienic and safe environment. Many emergencies require the use of hypodermic needles and syringes to administer medications. These sharp objects must be disposed of appropriately so the cart should feature both a medical waste bin and a sharps container.
Rolling Casters
In addition, a crash cart must feature wheels or casters for mobility. One of the biggest benefits to crash carts is the ability to take them to whenever the patient is located.
Wheels or casters allow the crash cart to maneuver through tight spaces and be taken room to room for better staff access. They can then be locked to prevent cart movement during use. At Scott-Clark Medical, our casters feature multiple surface rollers allowing them to move easily between different rooms.
Locking Trays
Medication carts can contain medications which are subject to strict regulatory laws as well as potentially dangerous instruments. These items must be tracked to avoid misuse. Locked trays provide added security with electronic locking that is only accessible to authorized medical staff. These locks do not slow down emergency efforts as the locks are responsive and can move drawers slightly forward to indicate the drawer is ready.
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