Hands On July 2014

Personnel Safety 360-Degree Light Bar 

You can never have too much safety equipment. Over the last decade there’s been a real push to keep the prehospital worker safe. Anything you can do or wear to be visible when on the roadside may make the difference in life or death, which means all of us should be wearing safety vests when we’re out of our ambulances at a motor vehicle crash. But what if there were an additional way to make sure you were easily seen? The Guardian Angel from 425 Inc. is a portable, wearable mini light bar that makes the user highly visible. The Guardian Angel is lightweight and can be worn on a service uniform or bunker gear. With an LED rating of 900 lumens, Guardian Angel can be set for multiple light functions allowing for front, rear and nearly 360-degree visibility up to two miles. It’s also rechargeable and comes with a standard USB charger and power adapter. The Guardian Angel is durable, water resistant and works well in extreme weather conditions.

Guardian Angel

VITALS 

LED color options: Red/white,red/red, yellow/yellow, red/ yellow, white/yellow, blue/ blue, green/green

Weight: 6.1 oz.

Price: $199.95

www.425inc.us 

414-220-0605

 

One Hand Multi-Tool 

I’ve always looked forward to see what Leatherman will roll out next in the world of multi-tools. The Leatherman OHT takes the multi-tool to a new level. It’s the first 100% one-hand-operable multi-tool, making it great for rescue and tactical use. The OHT features 16 tools–one of which happens to be an oxygen wrench, making it ideal for EMS use. Other features in this multi-tool are spring-action needle-nose and regular pliers, spring-action 154CM-replaceable-wire, hard-wire cutters, 420HC and serrated knives, saw, strap cutter, can opener, bottle opener, and screwdriver. The OHT is coated with a durable, black oxide powder-based coating, and the handles have visual imprints of the tools underneath for quick, reference. The tool is also covered by Leatherman’s 25-year warranty.

Leatherman OHT

Leatherman OHT

 

VITALS 

Color: Black

Weight: 9.9 oz.

Closed length: 4.5”

Primary blade length: 2.3”

Price: $92.00—$100.00

www.leatherman.com 

800-847-8665

 

No More Wires 

It’s rare I write about a product that isn’t yet commercially available, but at this year’s EMS Today Conference and Exposition, I came across a product I believe really represents the technologically advanced direction EMS is headed. The Department of Homeland Security has partnered with Sotera Wireless Inc. to develop Visi Mobile Monitor, an amazing wireless patient monitoring device. This device eliminates the safety concerns and inconvenience caused by wires that get in the way during patient transport. The patient wears a single monitor that will be able to monitor blood pressure, pulse, temperature, 12-lead ECG and respirations, and transmits the data wirelessly to a central monitor. This system will work with existing devices and can use traditional sensor patches. The system will also support real-time data exchange between the ambulance and the ED. It’s already in use in many hospitals and is coming to EMS soon.

Visi Mobile Monitor

VITALS 

Dimensions: 1.0″ H x 1.9″ W x 3.7″ L

Weight: 3.9 oz.

Price: Call for pricing

www.visimobile.com 

858-427-4620

 

Get Cool, Stay Cool 

I’ll be the first to admit that when I’m overheated, I’m a bear. Keeping cool in hot environments isn’t just a matter of your mood–it can be a matter of your health. Originally designed for athletes, the ArcticBlu Cooling Towel from ArcticBlu would be a great addition to any EMS responder’s or rescuer’s gear when working on hot days. This towel will keep you 20 degrees cooler with its unique design: One side is smooth while the other features waffle-like dimples for comfort. This design allows the towel to suspend water longer, keeping it cold and allowing a longer cooling effect on the body. Just add water and the towel is ready to use and will stay cool for 4—6 hours. Use the towel to wipe yourself off when hot or simply wear it around your neck to stay cool. The towel is washable and reusable and comes in a convenient storage container.

ArcticBlu Cooling Towel

ArcticBlu Cooling Towel

VITALS 

Colors: Blue, pink or camouflage

Price: $16.99

www.arcticblu.com 

717-649-4586

 

Fast & Easy Windshield Removal 

Like it or not, federal regulations require that by 2018, all vehicle window glass will be laminated. If you’ve removed a laminated glass windshield, you know how much work it takes and how glass dust and pieces can also fall into the vehicle where your victim may be trapped. The RHYNO Windshield Cutter by We Cut The Glass LLC is a rechargeable tool that can cut out a windshield in less than one minute. The blades on this cutter are safe to use and won’t lacerate the skin if it comes in contact with the rescuer. The blade design also keeps glass, dust and debris outside the vehicle and away from rescuers and victims inside the vehicle. Product purchase includes 14.4V RHYNO Windshield Cutter tool, two lithium-ion batteries and a smart battery charger, two suction cup lifters, a cutter blade wrench, a mini Halligan bar, and a cloth carry bag. RHYNO can cut more than 30 windshields on a single battery charge.

RHYNO Windshield Cutter

VITALS 

Battery: 14.4 V lithium-ion

Price: $699.99

www.wecuttheglass.com 

800-883-1094

 

Making Learning Fun 

Yes, that’s right, make learning fun. Everyone learns in their own way– some are good listeners, others learn better through visuals, some with hands-on activities, and others with a combination of all three. Unfortunately, many of our teaching styles or course curriculums only focus on one type of learner. Many students complain about “death by Power Point,” or labs that move too quickly. BRAVO! Classic from C3 SoftWorks is game-building software that gives instructor an easy way to make a game out of learning. BRAVO! features four familiar game show formats: Quiz Show, ShowDown, Billionaire, and SpinOff. The games are customizable templates that allow the instructor to create questions on any subject. Available wireless keypads get everyone in the game. The system can also track the students’ responses and give instructors valuable information on the material students understand or help find subject matter students may need more work on.

BRAVO! Classic from C3 SoftWorks

VITALS 

Price: Call for pricing www.c3softworks.com  888-333-1969

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