Those in the emergency medical services use an array of EMS tools and equipment, both electronic and otherwise. If you’re in this sector, you need to understand why the following 50 tools are vital to your role and, more importantly, how to use them.
- The Top 50 EMS Tools and Equipment
- Top 8 Tips for Upgrading EMS Technology Tools
- EMS Tools and Pictures with Names
- Talk to EMS Expert
The Top 50 EMS Tools and Equipment
Having the following tools to hand ensures an EMS is prepared for any medical situation that arises.
1 – Band-Aids
Simple Band-Aids are useful for treating minor scrapes and scratches. Though they’re unlikely to be the primary form of treatment for most EMS call-outs, they’re always handy to treat minor wounds.
2 – Face Mask
Good EMS professional protects themselves so that they can help their patients. Disposable face masks lower the risk of breathing in contaminants, in addition to ensuring you’re less likely to infect a patient if you have an illness of which you’re unaware.
3 – Mobile Computer
Logging records, tracking data, and accessing information are all things you may need to do on the road when you’re called out. A good mobile computer offers access to information and can connect to 4G and 5G networks.
If you would like to talk to an expert for more information about EMS mobile computer devices, please fill out the form below and get in touch with one of our tech experts. We guarantee a response within one business hour!
4 – Tourniquet
Tourniquets help you to stop bleeding when a patient’s limb has been partially or fully amputated. They do the same for treating large cuts, stab wounds, and any other issue that causes the patient to bleed profusely.
5 – A Watch
A watch helps you do more than check the time when you’re an EMS. You’ll use your watch when taking somebody’s blood pressure, administering medication, or measuring a pulse.
6 – Stethoscope
If you need to hear what’s going on with a patient’s heart, lungs, or bowels, a stethoscope is your tool of choice. Use it to check the frequency range of a patient’s internal organs, which may give you some insight into their condition.
7 – Sphygmomanometer
This instrument helps you measure a patient’s blood pressure. It’s also called a “blood pressure cuff,” and is usually an inflatable rubber cuff that you wrap around a patient’s arm. This cuff connects to a device that records arterial blood pressure.
8 – Magnifier
Magnifiers help you to get a better look at small objects or wounds. They’re particularly useful in cases where you need to inspect a wound that’s obscured by blood or dirt.
9 – Dressings
Many of your patients will come to you with wounds that require dressing. You need to have a plentiful supply of clean dressings on hand to help stifle blood flow and cover wounds, with the latter being crucial to preventing infection and speeding up the healing process.
10 – Restraint Straps
Agitated patients are more difficult to treat, necessitating the use of restraint straps. You’ll also need these straps to secure patients during emergency ambulance rides. Plus, the straps help you to keep patients still when they’ve suffered a traumatic neck or back injuries.
11 – Collars and Braces
Securing a patient’s safety is critical when they’ve experienced a traumatic injury, such as a broken bone. Your ambulance should be stocked with collars and braces to stabilize a patient’s injury and protect them from further damage.
12 – Ventilators
If a patient is struggling to breathe, you may need to place them on a ventilator. This machine acts similarly to bellows, allowing you to pump air in and out of a patient’s lungs. Proper ventilator usage can keep a patient stable during transit and buy valuable time for further treatment.
13 – Key Organizer
You may have several keys on your person, including keys for an ambulance, locked boxes containing medical supplies, and keys for a medical facility. A good key organizer ensures you can find the right key at the right time, potentially saving valuable time in an emergency situation.
14 – Tissues
The simple tissue has many uses. It can help stifle blood flow in cases where you’re running low on bandages and similar equipment. But often, tissues are offered to upset patients and family members.
15 – EMS Pocket Guide
If you need to quickly check the dosages for medication or look up a medication that your patient requires, an EMS Pocket Guide is essential. There are several versions of this guide, all of which contain useful information you can use to treat your patients.
16 – Over-the-Counter Medications
Though EMS personnel don’t often use complex medications without pre-approval from a patient’s doctor, they can use over-the-counter medications. Simple painkillers, such as aspirin and paracetamol, can help treat minor injuries.
17 – A Sharpie
You won’t use a Sharpie to take notes. Instead, this tool is useful for quickly marking a patient’s body to denote wounds or treatment locations. Consider keeping a full pack so you have a replacement if the Sharpie you’re using runs out of ink.
18 – Trauma Shears
Trauma shears are special curved scissors that allow you to quickly slice through clothing and bandages. They’re essential for gaining quick access to a patient’s body so you can treat cuts, burns, and similar wounds. Note that some also call these tools “bandage shears.”
19 – IV Supplies
You may need to hook a patient up to an intravenous (IV) solution when they’re in your ambulance. An IV kit, which includes an administration set, catheter needles, bag, and infusion kit, allows you to quickly get fluids into a patient’s body.
20 – Spinal Board
You can’t lift or carry a patient who’s suffered a traumatic injury by hand. Rather, you need a spinal board. These boards allow you to safely transfer patients from the ground into your ambulance. You ensure stability while making it easier to carry the patient.
21 – Infusion Pump
Infusion pumps are medical devices that allow you to control the flow of fluids into a patient’s body. EMS personnel typically need ambulatory infusion pumps, which are portable versions of the device. Infusion pumps come in several varieties, including syringe, smart, multi-channel, and elastomeric pumps.
22 – EMS Pants
EMS pants have several pockets and storage compartments you can use to store other EMS equipment, such as shears and bandages. They’re essential pieces of kit because other types of pants aren’t as capacious, causing delays when administering treatment.
23 – Boots
Boots offer the perfect combination of comfort and functionality. They provide the traction you need to traverse rough or wet terrain to get to a patient. Plus, you can run safely in boots without worrying about discomfort or slipping.
24 – Cellphone
A good work cellphone does the obvious in terms of allowing you to make phone calls to other medical personnel. However, it’s also a valuable tool for looking up the information you need to quickly diagnose a patient’s condition. Plus, a cellphone can host apps that aid you in your EMS work.
If you would like to talk to an expert for more information about mobile cellphone devices, please fill out the form below and get in touch with one of our tech experts. We guarantee a response within one business hour!
25 – Multi-Tool
Multi-tools combine numerous small tools into a single device. Though they’re most commonly used for DIY and everyday carry purposes, multi-tools often include cutting tools you can use in a pinch.
26 – Bag Valve Mask
Used alongside ventilators, bag valve masks allow you to control the flow of oxygen in and out of a patient’s lungs. They’re used in cases where endotracheal intubation isn’t possible, though you must have the appropriate training to use this equipment correctly.
27 – Barcode Scanner
Barcode scanners have several uses in the medical field. For example, hospitals can fit patients with wristbands containing barcodes, which are scannable to reveal vital information. An EMS could use a barcode scanner to pull up information about medications.
28 – Bandages
Bandages are a type of dressing that EMS personnel often need to apply in the field. The key here is that you have bandages of multiple sizes and types. Furthermore, bandages need to be clean to reduce the risk of infection when applied.
29 – Oxygen Masks
EMS personnel use oxygen masks to efficiently transfer oxygen from a tank to a patient’s lungs. There are several types of oxygen masks you may need, including non-rebreather, partial rebreather, capnography, nasal cannula, and simple masks.
30 – Pulse Oximeter
Pulse oximeters allow EMS personnel to quickly test a patient’s blood oxygen levels. They are clip-like devices placed on the ear lobe or finger that use light to help you determine if a patient needs extra oxygen.
31 – Notepad
A notepad is always handy to have around so you can jot down details related to your patient. These details could include anything from the treatments applied to information about a patient’s accident or medical requirements.
32 – Flashlight
Having a small flashlight handy helps you to inspect patients in dark conditions. You can also use flashlights to check your surroundings and shed light on obscured or complicated wounds.
33 – Pen
Your notepad isn’t much use if you don’t have a pen for writing down notes. A simple biro pen does the job, though many EMS personnel opt for tactical pens that can withstand jostling and impacts.
34 – Tablet
Much like mobile computers and cellphones, tablet computers offer access to a medical facilities database. They also help you quickly research medications and treatments, in addition to hosting apps you can use to treat your patients.
If you would like to talk to an expert for more information about EMS tablet devices, please fill out the form below and get in touch with one of our tech experts. We guarantee a response within one business hour!
35 – Syringes
A healthy supply of clean syringes is essential for injecting fluids or medications into your patients. All medical syringes have rubber caps that cover the needle, protecting both you and the needle from damage.
36 – EMS Bag
You can’t keep every tool you need in your EMS pants. An EMS bag also called a “trauma bag,” offers more storage. You’ll use it to store tools that don’t fit into your EMS pants. Some bags also incorporate specialized equipment for specific medical emergencies.
37 – Hemogulcometer
Also known as a “blood glucose meter,” this device measures a patient’s blood sugar levels. You’ll often need a hemogulcometer when treating diabetic patients.
38 – Medical Tape
Medical tape is a special type of tape designed for use with the human body. In addition to being useful for directly taping up wounds, the medical tape also allows you to secure bandages to the patient.
39 – Laptop
EMS personnel have several uses for laptops. They’re ideal for when you need to look up notes or access a patient’s information from a hospital’s database. You can also use a laptop to remotely record treatment details so doctors understand the patient’s condition when they arrive at a medical facility.
40 – Splints
Splints are supportive devices used to protect injured or broken bones. They hold the bone in a set position, ensuring no further damage occurs during transit to a medical facility.
41 – Power Bank
EMS personnel use a range of electronic devices, including cell phones and tablet computers. If these devices start to run low on battery, power banks offer a quick and portable way to recharge them.
42 – A Change of Clothes
Your work clothes may get stained by mud, muck, and blood. Additionally, you may tear your clothes if you need to navigate tough terrain. Having spares of all of your EMS clothing on hand allows you to quickly change so you’re ready for your next patient.
43 – Oxygen Cylinders
Also called “oxygen tanks,” oxygen cylinders store oxygen under pressure, which you can usually measure using the attached gauge. You must hook up an oxygen cylinder to an appropriate mask to administer oxygen to a patient.
44 – Gloves
Hygiene is critical when treating a patient. Every EMS should have a supply of disposable medical gloves to reduce the risk of infection and protect themselves when helping others.
45 – Thermometer
Patient assessments often require you to take a patient’s temperature. Both oral and rectal thermometers help you do this, making them ideal for treating those with infections, hypothermia, and similar conditions.
46 – Oxygen Key
An oxygen key allows you to quickly open oxygen cylinders. Also called “oxygen wrenches”, these keys ensure you don’t waste precious seconds trying to access a cylinder, allowing you to administer oxygen as quickly as possible.
47 – ECG Monitor
You may need to monitor a patient’s heartbeat when providing treatment. An electrocardiogram (ECG) monitor tracks and records electrical signals from the heart, allowing you to treat patients who have various heart conditions.
48 – Portable Toiletries
With hygiene being paramount to providing effective medical treatment, having toiletries on hand is essential. Wipes, hand sanitizer, and soap are all key parts of this kit. You may also use these toiletries to wipe down patients to access wounds and other injuries.
49 – Suction Devices
First responders often need to use airway suctioning to clear a patient’s airways so they can administer CPR or use other tools for treatment. There are several types of suction devices, including manual, portable, and wall-mounted versions.
50 – Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
AEDs are portable devices that administer electrical shocks to a patient’s heart. These shocks can restore cardiac rhythm in cases of cardiac arrest or if the patient has an irregular heartbeat. You may also use an AED as part of administering CPR.
Top 8 Tips for Upgrading EMS Technology Tools
At various points during your EMS career, you may need to upgrade your tools and equipment. These quick tips help you do so in a way that best serves your patients:
- Research advancements and evolutions in current tools and technologies so you understand what’s available.
- Budget appropriately to ensure your upgrades don’t require you to forego other equipment that’s essential to your work.
- Consider the issues previous patients have had so you understand which tools are most useful for upgrading.
- Track the status of electronic devices, such as cell phones and laptops. While you don’t necessarily need the newest devices, aging devices operate relatively slowly and may have fewer features than newer technology.
- Ease of use is critical. An upgraded tool that’s harder to use than the previous version could cost valuable time in emergencies.
- Think about how every upgrade you implement fits into the overall process of treating your patients.
- Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions before upgrading. The more you know about the technology, the better you’re able to make full use of the equipment when the time comes.
- Work with an EMS expert who can guide you toward the tools that make you a more effective EMS practitioner.
EMS Tools and Pictures with Names
If you’re unsure about which of the above 50 tools is absolutely essential to your work as an EMS professional, the below infographic highlights the most important devices.
Talk to EMS Expert
As an EMS professional, you’ve undergone extensive training and likely have a deep understanding of many of the tools on this list. However, you may also recognize the need to upgrade your tools and equipment to provide the best treatment to your patient.
The challenge lies in finding the right equipment.
At Energy Electronics, we specialize in equipping EMS personnel with the electronic devices that make them more efficient when providing treatment. With our help, you can access cell phones, mobile computers, laptops, tablets, and barcode scanners that are rugged and capable of giving you access to the information you need.
If you’re considering upgrades for your existing equipment and need help choosing the appropriate devices, contact an Energy Electronics expert today. We’ll guide you to the tools that help you save more lives.
