Working in emergency medical services and serving the needs of the community through pre-hospital treatment means that not only is time short, but responses also need to be efficient as possible. QuadMed has selected a small grouping of products that are an essential investment for any emergency medical team.

Tactical Medical Supplies for Wound Care & More

For traumatic injury, having the proper wound care supplies and support on hand is essential. Tactical wound care supplies are a great choice for emergency care services even when they aren't working in adverse environments. Because they are designed to work in these conditions, they often feature combined packaging making them very efficient to use. These products also tend to be more durable and rugged in their design, plus they are often vacuum-packed to reduce size. Additionally, as more emergency medical companies are having to deal with mass trauma events, these tactical medical supplies can provide an extra hand.

A great example of a tactical medical product that is useful for any emergency care program is the H & H TACGauze Wound Wrapping Gauze. This gauze is more absorbent than standard cotton gauze and also shed fewer fibers with less adherence to damaged tissues. This gauze is ideal for bleeding control, wound and limb wrapping and as added packing under compression bandages. TACgauze is also made in the USA and is Berry Amendment compliant. The product is packed and sterilized as a 4.5" wide by 120" long strip, ready to use.

Another great crossover product is the RISE (Rigid Immobilization System for Extremities) by TacMed Solutions. This rugged, low profile splint is perfect for extremity fractures and pelvic binding in pre-hospital environments. It features an intuitive design that is simple to secure with an elastic wrap or pressure bandage. It also features dynamic, living hinges that allow the splint to fit the required shape and dimensions for proper upper and lower extremity splinting of fractures, but also allows it to collapse onto itself for ultra-compact storage.

Airway Management Supplies

In emergency care, one of the most vital efforts is airway management. From something as simple as bad lighting to obstructions from trauma, emergency calls rarely offer ideal conditions for resuscitation. That's why your airway management products need to be up to the task and ready to go when you need them. Modern upgrades to the standard catheters, airways and more allow for easier intubation, better samples and optimized patient outcomes. We've selected a few of our favorite, and most popular products in this section.

Designed to meet the unique needs of emergency care, the SSCOR DuCanto Catheter is effective for use in the SALAD (Suction Assisted Laryngoscopy and Airway Decontamination) technique. This technique calls for constant suction provided by a catheter in the upper airway, continuously removing vomit, blood and other materials, around which the practitioner intubates the patient via either direct or video laryngoscopy. The DuCanto Catheter has a larger internal diameter making it less likely to clog and the hyper curved catheter is shaped more like a patient's airway making it easy to position the catheter. Additionally, the SSCOR DuCanto Catheter does not have a thumb port. By removing the vacuum control, the caregiver does not need to locate and keep their thumb positioned over the thumb port to clear a patient’s airway and allows for continuous suction once connected to the suction source.

With insertion that can be achieved in less than five seconds, the Intersurgical i-gel O2 Resus Pack is ideal for use in emergency medicine and other difficult airway management cases. The i-gel O2 has been designed to facilitate ventilation as part of standard resuscitation protocols, such as those designated by the American Heart Association (AHA). Additionally, the i-gel O2 incorporates a supplementary oxygen port, so it can also be used for the delivery of passive oxygenation, or Passive Airway Management (PAMTM), as part of an appropriate CardioCerebral Resuscitation (CCR) protocol. For ease of use and convenience the i-gel O2 Resus Pack contains an i-gel O2, a sachet of lubricant, airway support strap and suction tube, all packaged in a specially designed clear, sterile, rigid pack for ease of transport and storage.

For patients in respiratory distress, the Pulmodyne O2-MAX is an emergency CPAP that features integrated nebulization. Medicine can be added through a needleless entry port right on the canister without interference with the CPAP therapy. Continuous positive airway pressure is becoming the standard for care and this unit can deliver up to 140 LPM of flow with an approximate 30% FiO2. For ease of use and adaptability, it includes a 3-SET option for PEEP of 5, 7.5 and 10cm H2O. Additionally, this CPAP is disposable.

Beyond simple delivery of oxygen, it is often necessary to capture an end tide sample for proper patient management. The VentFlo ETCO2/O2 Oral/Nasal Cannula offers delivery of oxygen, with the added benefit of a connector with an in-line filter that minimizes the risk of sample contamination. This cannula is compatible with Microstream, Capnostream and Oridion capnography monitors. Another great option for filtered sampling is the Masimo Nomoline-O Adult and Pediatric Airway Adapter Set. This sampling line includes a hydrophobic bacterial filter and attaches with a single-twist luer connector. This addition delivers out-of-the-box compatibility with existing compatible third-party capnography devices making conversion easy and efficient while reducing the costs associated with new equipment.

While not something that comes immediately to mind when thinking of emergency care, electrodes are a mainstay of any cardiac monitoring system. These disposable sensors must provide accurate and strong signals, but should also be comfortable for the patient. The Ambu WhiteSensor WS, for example, features a highly conductive solid gel backing, which offers a strong signal with good quality; it also has strong adhesion and is designed for short-term ECG monitoring applications. A flexible foam backing material offers increased comfort.

The efficiency of emergency medical calls is based not only on the training and capability of the unit, it is also influenced by their medical equipment and supplies. A small investment in daily supplies can not only increase efficiency of calls it can also increase patient outcomes. For the products that you need most and to find the latest smart investments for your emergency medical team, turn to QuadMed.