Medical carts vary slightly between healthcare facilities, but certain items are essential to keep in one at all times. A resuscitation cart is a mobile unit equipped with essential medical supplies, equipment, and medications to assist with lifesaving procedures during an emergency situation.
Typically, a medical crash cart has drawers organized by function with labels and contents clearly displayed. The top drawer holds reversal drugs, such as epinephrine and sodium bicarbonate.
What Should Be Included in a Resuscitation Cart?
Crash carts are designed to facilitate a team’s rapid response to code incidents, which can have a significant impact on patient outcomes. However, if they’re not properly maintained and organized, medical staff might face challenges when the time to respond is most critical.
The contents of hospital crash carts can vary slightly depending on the ward or department, but there are some standard must-haves that every unit should have. Typically, a hospital’s emergency cart includes basic life support equipment like a defibrillator and heart monitor. It also has various tools to prepare for patient care such as sterile gloves, masks, and suction equipment.
Another important feature of a hospital code cart is its medication drawers. Most of these contain essential drugs that a health professional might need in the event of an emergency, such as epinephrine (a vasopressor to treat low blood pressure or cardiac arrest), amiodarone (to prevent ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia during a cardiac arrest), and calcium gluconate to increase serum or blood pH to reduce acidosis.
Aside from the medications, hospital crash carts should have other supplies and accessories to improve storage and organization. For instance, using drawer dividers can prevent cross contamination of medications and help avoid mixing similar items. Plastic breakaway locks, on the other hand, are a great way to protect medical cart contents from unauthorized personnel while still allowing rapid access during emergencies.
First Aid Kit
Crash carts should include a first aid kit to manage injuries or illnesses until emergency responders arrive. Typically, these kits are labeled in internationally recognized safety green and feature the Red Cross symbol. While a first aid kit is not a substitute for a full resuscitation cart, it can help minimize delays that can occur during a code.
Drawers on a resuscitation cart should be organized by function with each drawer clearly labeled. For example, the first drawer might house adult airway management equipment like ET tubes, laryngoscopes with blades and oral airways, while the second drawer might hold IV-related supplies like blood bags, saline solutions, IV start kits and extension tubing. A third drawer might store medical supplies like gauze, alcohol swabs and tape. Another drawer might contain a variety of medications for use during code situations, including high-alert medicines like epinephrine and sodium bicarbonate.
It’s also a good idea to have a copy of the latest Advanced Cardiac Life Support algorithms in the cart so that nurses and other staff members can reference them during an emergency. These algorithms provide step-by-step instructions to help focus clinical teams and calm them down. They’re also useful for providing clarity during a chaotic code. Some hospitals laminate the protocols, slip them on a ring and hang them on the cart for quick access. Then, they’re ready for a quick reaction to any code or emergency situation.
CPR Mask
A CPR mask is an essential item in a Resuscitation Cart. The mask allows the first responder to deliver rescue breaths through a one-way valve that prevents backflow of air or contaminants from the victim into their mouth. It can help to ease the fears of some people who are reluctant to perform mouth-to-mouth ventilation, as it provides a barrier that makes it easier to breathe into the victim’s nose and mouth.
While each physician may organize the contents of their crash cart based on their own preference, most include the same equipment and drugs that are needed to treat a cardiac emergency. Defibrillators are usually the most important tool to have, and the top drawer of a resuscitation cart is likely to contain other breathing devices such as endotracheal tubes and nasal devices, as well as 10cc syringes and a laryngeal mask. Drugs to relieve distress are typically next, such as epinephrine and atropine.
The third and fourth drawers are likely to contain medications to treat hypotension, shock, seizures, and other symptoms that could arise during resuscitation. Lastly, the fifth and bottom drawer is often used for backup supplies and equipment such as chest tube trays and central line kits. The items in these drawers should be clearly labeled and have their expiration dates noted. This will help ensure that the equipment and medications are still usable in a life-threatening situation, and that time is not wasted trying to find what is needed.
Emergency Oxygen Supply
If a patient goes into respiratory arrest, it’s essential for healthcare providers to be able to administer oxygen immediately. This is why a hospital should make sure to have the equipment and supplies necessary to quickly transport a size E emergency oxygen tank. An oxygen crash cart kit can be the best solution for getting this flammable and potentially dangerous equipment to its location.
A typical oxygen crash cart should include a six-gallon emergency oxygen tank, an oxygen regulator with a flow indicator, a cardiac arrest backboard, and handheld suction equipment. A sharps box should also be included for storing a variety of important medical tools like needles, syringes, scalpels and other surgical devices.
In addition to the basic equipment, a quality oxygen crash cart should also have the proper medications for the types of patients that are likely to be treated during codes. For example, the first drawer should hold a supply of emergency medications such as epinephrine and sodium bicarbonate, normal saline and sterile water vials.
The next drawer should be stocked with a supply of adult airway management supplies such as ET tubes, laryngoscopes, stylets and supraglottic airways. A final drawer should include central line procedure trays and cricothyroidotomy kits for procedures that may be required during or after a code. Although each facility and patient population will vary, the above suggestions for a crash cart should help ensure that all the essential tools needed for a successful code are available at a moment’s notice.
Emergency Blanket
Emergency blankets are a must-have for any emergency medical kit. They are very effective for preventing hypothermia in situations where the person is unresponsive or not breathing. They are also very insulating and help to keep the person warm during cold or wet weather. They can be used on both adults and children.
A resuscitation cart is an essential tool in the treatment of patients who are at risk of dying from cardiac arrest or other life-threatening conditions. A resuscitation cart is often called a crash cart, and it is important to include all of the necessary supplies and equipment in order to treat the patient quickly and efficiently.
The resuscitation cart is typically located in a designated area so that it can be easily accessed by the members of the code team. The cart should be checked and replenished on a regular basis to ensure that the supplies are up to date. It is also important to have a system for documenting all of the activities that take place on the resuscitation cart.
Other items that may be included in a resuscitation cart include naloxone and other medications for opioid overdoses. In addition, a resuscitation cart might contain dopamine to increase blood flow and improve cardiac output, as well as a vasopressor such as epinephrine to prevent hypotension. The resuscitation cart should also have intravenous access equipment and angiocaths.
Water Bottle
Whether you call them drawers, trays or shelves on wheels, the carts that physicians use in emergency situations contain a variety of life-saving tools and drugs. Although each physician may organize their cart to their liking, all have the same equipment and supplies necessary to treat patients suffering from a cardiac or respiratory crisis.
The top drawer of a code cart usually contains breathing devices, such as intubation tools, endotracheal tubes and nasal devices, along with 10cc syringes and laryngeal masks. Medications to help relieve patient distress will also be available, such as epinephrine and atropine. The bottom drawer will likely hold IV fluids and equipment used to administer them, blood pressure cuffs, and flashlights. It’s important for these supplies to be organized in a way that allows physicians to access them quickly and efficiently.
If a physician is forced to spend time searching for the tools and medications needed to treat a patient, it could put that patient’s life in danger. This is why the organization of a Resuscitation Cart is so crucial. It’s also important that it is checked daily to ensure the cart remains stocked with current medication and equipment, and that expired items are removed from the cart. Many hospitals opt for a more intensive system, requiring twice-daily checks of the equipment on the cart and monthly inventory checks. This helps reduce the risk of critical errors in emergencies and ensures that clinicians can respond swiftly to patient needs.