How does a crash cart work?

 A crash cart also called emgergency trolley, emgergency response cart, code cart ,crash trolley or "MAX cart" is a set of trays/drawers/shelves on wheels used in hospitals for transportation and dispensing of emergency medication/equipment at site of medical surgical emergency for life support protocols (ACLS/ALS) to potentially save someone's life.But do you know how does a crash cart work?

The following knowledge points are listed below:

Ø What is the function of crash cart ?

Ø How is the crash cart organized

1.What is the function of crash cart ?

The medical crash cart is a critical part of the medical industry. The crash cart allows medical professionals to respond quickly to codes and is more than merely a medication cart because it contains everything that might be needed in terms of medication and equipment in a life saving emergency.

2.How Is a Crash Cart organized?

The crash cart’s primary use may be to transport the supplies a doctor and/or nurse may need to save a patient’s life, however, it is critical how the cart is thoughtfully organized. Every life-saving device, tool, supply, and medication must be easily accessible in a common-sense manner so that in an emergency, the doctor or nurse can locate exactly what they need without delay. Opening and closing drawers, digging through drawers or asking nurses to go find a needed item because it’s not on the cart can mean the difference between life or death for a patient.

To speed accessibility, every drawer on the crash cart will be clearly labeled with the type of contents it contains. Some facilities use carts with 5-6 drawers, while others prefer shorter carts. The crash cart drawers can be customized to the needs and desires of the doctors and nurses. While the contents and placement of each drawer may vary, the crash carts will all have casters with wheels that move in all directions and can be locked into place. The drawers also contain locking mechanisms. This not only prevents thefts but ensures everything that is expected to be in the cart is there.

The following list of items is the most typical found on a crash cart and are arranged not only by the frequency of their use but the available space in the crash cart.

The organization may vary depending on factors such as the facility where the crash cart is used or the treatment area. However, there is a common standard for the organization of crash carts, which usually follow a similar pattern in different facilities.

(1) On the top

The defibrillator on the top of the crash cart should be ready for use immediately when needed, and checked daily to ensure it is in good working condition. Defibrillation pads should be multi-purpose so that they can be used in various situations. In addition, separate baby pads and paddles should be prepared.

The oxygen supply and valves should be easily accessible. These supplies and valves should include some mask size options, including a baby mask.

One side of the oxygen tank should be firmly fixed. The pressure or oxygen level in the fuel tank should be checked regularly and signed by the inspector.

A cardiopulmonary resuscitation backplane and resuscitation tape for pediatric care should also be stored outside the crash cart.

(2) Medicine

Medications are usually stored in the top drawer of the crash cart, or in the top two drawers. If you have pediatric and adult medicine, you can put pediatric medicine in the second drawer.

Medicines can be placed in a row in the drawer, and each row contains medicines for different purposes. For example, medications used to treat cardiac arrest are usually placed closer to the front for faster access.

(3) Intubation

Intubation can be one of the tasks of an crash cart. Depending on how the other drawers are organized, you can lower some material in one of the crash cart drawers.

Due to the appearance of the device, pediatric and adult intubation devices should be separated.

Intravenous infusion tube

The materials needed to start the IV line should have its own drawer on the crash cart. The drawer should contain needles, syringes, and other variable equipment of various sizes in order to treat any patient. You can also choose to put intravenous fluids in a drawer for easy access.

(4) Package

The equipment required for medical procedures is usually stored in the bottom drawer of the crash cart, usually in the fifth drawer. The device is designed for emergency procedures that are often needed during code execution.

Equipment should be prepared in kit form, and each kit should be specified for a specific program. Sterile gloves and sutures should also be included in the drawer so that they can be retrieved at the same time as the surgical kit.

Now you know how the crash cart work.

Our company also has many products about Medicine Trolley and Anesthesia Machine. Welcome to consult!