Keep Airway Pressure Under Control

There are always those patients. One of the most frustrating situations during a critical care transport occurs when the ventilator-dependant patient doesn't quickly adjust from their ventilator to your transport ventilator. This is worsened if your ventilator fails during the transport and you must attempt to ventilate your patient without the ability to monitor their airway parameters. The APM Airway Pressure Monitor from Vortran Medical Technology is a portable electronic airway monitor that allows you to view peek inspiratory pressure, respiration rate, peek-end expiratory pressure, I:E ratio, inspiratory time and expiratory time. Available in adult (red) and pediatric (blue) models with preset alarm limits. VITALS Models: Adult (red), Pediatric (blue) Dimensions: 3.3" x 2.2" x 1.9" Weight: 8 oz. Power: 9 volt Price: $425 www.vortran.com 800/434-4034

This App Is Critical

The pocket field guide has been part of EMS since EMTs and paramedics first scribbled their own lists of commonly used prescription medications. Critical, the new iPhone app from the Barringer Group takes the electronic version of the field guide to a whole new level. Using Critical is intuitive, and the app is filled with information for you to use clinically and educationally. Because many EMS workers are kinesthetic learners, they need to see cardiac rhythms in motion as they do on the ECG monitor. Critical addresses this with a large number of embedded videos on ECGs, ventilators, balloon pumps and other critical-care interventions. Having this level of information at your fingertips makes the 1:1 instruction of a preceptor and student that much easier. There’s even a medical Spanish section that will speak the selected phrase in case you haven’t used your Spanish since high school. VITALS Platform: Apple iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch Price: $9.99 www.criticalusa.com

Organize Your Accessories

EMTs and paramedics carry a variety of items at work that aren’t provided by their employers. The Bail Out Tactical Gear Bag from L.A. Police Gear is a great place to store and organize all of the extras you want to keep nearby while you’re working. A number of exterior pockets can hold your phone, charger, field guides, Broselow Tape, flashlight, spare stethoscope, trauma shears, etc. The interior is designed to hold a handgun but can easily protect a tablet PC or iPad. Now you can bail out your partner or your student when they end up forgetting their required equipment.

VITALS

Colors: Black, Desert Tan, OD Green

Dimensions: 14" x 10" x 6"

Material: 600 Denier Nylon

Price: $19.99

www.lapolicegear.com

866/793-1911

Handlight & Area Light

Patients do the darndest things, in the weirdest, most remote, darkest locations. Lighting a large, remote area presents many challenges, including the weight of the light(s), run time and operating temperature. The new Samalite HD200 from Pac Atlantic addresses all of these concerns with a handheld spotlight that quickly converts to a wide-area light with the addition of an LED floodlight on a 36" aluminum mast. The unit will operate to -60 F. And because it weighs less than 4 lbs., it's easy to carry to any scene. A variety of battery choices provide up to six hours of run time, which should be enough for almost every first responder to have additional resources on scene. VITALS Colors: Yellow, black Weight: 3.85 lbs. Output: 3,200 lumens Run Time: 6 hours Price: $320–850 www.pacatlantic.com 609/518-3521

On Target

Every emergency vehicle should carry a pair of binoculars. In some states, it’s a requirement. The most basic reason is for scene safety and assessment during a hazmat spill, but they also come in handy for missing person searches, large outdoor events, and wilderness and maritime rescues. Minox BN 7x50 Binoculars are packed with features that provide a wide array of information to the user. A digital compass allows you to give a compass bearing to search teams when a subject is in sight. The compass unobtrusively displays in the middle of your field of view, so you don’t need to take your eyes off the target to read the bearing. The binoculars are also rubberized, watertight and anti-fogging, so you don’t have to worry about using them in foul weather. VITALS Dimensions: 65 x 61 x 143 mm Weight: 370 g Magnification: 7x Field of View: 123 m at 1,000 m Price: $706 www.minox.com 866/469-3080

Clothing Removal Plus

Police officers carry guns; EMTs and paramedics carry trauma shears. Most police officers will never fire their gun on the job. Every EMT and paramedic will use their trauma shears. In fact, we look forward to it. The Treck+ from Talon Rescue improves on the original design with a revised blade angle, oxygen key and clip. Using the Treck+ requires a little practice, but the technique of pulling the clothing away from the patient actually makes it safer and faster. The addition of an oxygen key makes the Treck+ a more versatile tool for EMS, and the clip lets you hang keys or a lanyard for easy retrieval. VITALS Colors: Orange, Black Dimensions: 8.5" x 2.75" x 0.5" Weight: 2.3 oz. Price: $12.50 www.talonrescue.com 860/269-7289

LED Vehicle Scene Light

“EMS” equals “ambulance,” but it also equals “sedan,” “SUV,” “4WD truck,” “golf cart,” “Gator,” “Segway” and “bicycle.” Face it. We work in a variety of settings with a wide array of vehicles. Adding scene lighting to the non-traditional vehicles can be a challenge. The Micro Pioneer Light from Whelen provides you the ability to add an LED scene light almost anywhere on a vehicle. Lighting patterns can be adjusted by using one of four optic lenses; standard for 90" x 20" flood light, 40" x 20" flood light, 8" x 40" horizontal flood light and an 8" spot flood light. Drawing only 4 amps, the Micro-Pioneer Light can be added to most 12-volt systems without worry. The Micro-Pioneer is now available for flush mount, recessed applications. VITALS Colors: White, Black; Power: 4 Amps Voltage: 12 volts Dimensions: 4.25" x 4.75" x 3" Price: $403 www.whelen.com 860/526-9504