Hands On November 2010

Pelican 1460 EMS Case

Pelicans are known for their ability to hold a large amount of fish and water in their expandable throat pouch. Pelican cases are known for their ability to hold just about anything and keep water and dust out. The new 1460 EMS Case from Pelican may just be the last EMS case you’ll ever buy. The Pelican lifetime warranty covers the case, hinges, handles and latches. Some of the features include lockable compartments for controlled substances, adjustable tray dividers, double-throw latches and the renowned water- and dust-resistant Pelican O-ring seal (IP66). A shoulder strap that also holds a sharps container makes it even easier to manage the Sherpa duties of an EMS provider as you carry the drug box, oxygen and monitor/defibrillator.
Vitals
Exterior Dimensions: 20.85" x 12.73" x 12.75" Weight: 18.2 lbs. (empty)
Color: Black, orange
Price: $275
www.pelican.com
800/473-5422

5.11 Taclite

It’s easy to spot the 5.11 line of EMS uniform pants by the patented rear strap above the right pocket. Not to mention that lots of EMS workers wear them every day. The pocket design and layout, gusseted crotch, dual-function belt loops and built-in knee pads are some 5.11 design features that have made our job a little easier. Although still available in the original 7.25 oz. poly-cotton twill, the new lightweight 6.14 oz. poly-cotton Taclite ripstop fabric offers a comfortable choice to those who work in a warmer climate. Well-designed and well-made uniform pants are a necessity, but being comfortable in warm weather makes these something you’ll want to wear.
Vitals
Color: Dark Navy
Sizes: Men’s: 28–44; Women’s: 2–20
Material: 6.14 oz. poly-cotton Taclite ripstop fabric
Price: $49.99 (may vary by size)
www.511tactical.com
866/451-1726

FleetEyes Smart Phone App

Many dispatch centers have hardware and software packages that do a superb job of tracking vehicle locations and ensuring the closest unit responds to an incident. However, this information is often only available to those in the communication center or via a secure Internet connection. The new FleetEyes Smart Phone App allows fleet managers and supervisors to have this information within arm’s reach at any time. The app provides real-time incident data, vehicle status and mapping right in the palm of your hand. FleetEyes features an individual secure login, one-click keyword search, complete details of vehicles and every pending and active incident. You can also route yourself to any incident or vehicle without using another GPS device.
Vitals
Platforms: iPhone; BlackBerry Windows
Phone Price: $20
www.fleeteyes.com
888/760-7771

Pocket CO KWJ Engineering

Home heating season in the Northern Hemisphere has begun. With improvements to windows, doors and insulation, homes are now “tighter” than ever. Although this promotes heating efficiency, it exacerbates the possibility of carbon-monoxide (CO) poisoning in homes without adequate airflow. EMS providers encounter patients with CO poisoning on a regular basis. These patients present with headaches, body aches, malaise and only display the “cherry red” skin right before the CO kills them. The new Pocket CO from KWJ Engineering is small enough to be confused with your car alarm remote but loud enough to let you know when CO is at toxic levels. When it detects CO in the atmosphere, the alarms will sound at 50, 125 and 400 parts per million (PPM) with a loud beep, vibration and blinking LED. The Pocket CO also has a digital display so you can see the actual CO level. An eight-hour exposure above 25 PPM also triggers an alarm.
Vitals
Dimensions: 2.66" x 1.40" x 0.61"
Weight: < 1 oz. Range: 5–500 PPM CO
Color: Yellow
Price: $139
www.kwjengineering.com
510/794-4296

Stryker Speed-Sheet

We learned a few things in EMS Back Injury Prevention 101: Keep your back straight and knees bent, lift with your legs and keep the weight close to your body. That works well when you’re moving boxes, but with patients … not so much. One of the most dangerous moves for a rescuer’s back is the simple ambulance litter to emergency department bed transfer because you’re reaching at an angle that’s away from your center of gravity. The new Speed-Sheet from Stryker makes this move easier by altering the physics of the move and lowering the coefficient of friction. When you place the Speed-Sheet on top of your ambulance litter, it initially serves as a fluid barrier to protect the mattress. When you decide to use it to make a patient transfer easier, you simply tear any of the sheet’s eight red tabs, and air is admitted in between the sheet’s layers. This releases the vacuum, enabling the two sides of the sheet to easily slide past each other, which allows you to slide the patient from one location to another and save your back from unnecessary strain and trauma.
Vitals
Size: 72" x 23.5"
Maximum Weight Capacity: 700 lbs.
Activating Tabs:
Eight Price: $99/box of 10
www.ems.stryker.com
800/784-4336