(Part 2) Top products from r/ems

My flight program requires that our medics obtain these certifications - so I have had to help out many of them getting through these exams.

What I can recommend is a multi-angled approach.

First, consider a review book - this will just provide an outline of what material is testable. Of the ones I've looked at, the The Resource and Study Guide for Critical Care Clinicians is the best one of the ones I've seen. Expensive though.

Next you'll need an actual text to help fill in the blanks. Critical Care Transport 2ed is a solid text - and this edition is brand new. Honestly though, if you can get an older edition for cheap, I'd just do that.

Critical Care Transport Core Cirriculum is an intriguing book - joint project between ASTNA and the IAFCCP. I haven't seen it personally, but I've heard good things, and it's also quite pricy.

Next I would consider a mechanical ventilation text - the vent section of most CCT textbooks is pretty scant. I enjoy the FlightBridge vent text - Ventilator Management: A Pre-Hospital Perspective.

Next you'll want something with lots of practice questions. For this I like the IAFCCP practice text: IAFCCP Critical Care Exam Review. There are other ones, like the well known Will Wingfield book which are also worthwhile. You can't go wrong with lots of practice questions.

Don't forget the riveting CAMTS 10th Edition Guidelines. Read those. Try not to fall asleep.

Finally, podcasts - consider podcasts specifically from FlightBridge as you mentioned, but also Meducation Specialists. They both provide lots of great info and each have a series speaking specifically to exams.

Hopefully this gives you a good start.

Good luck!

>Looking for recommendations for a place to purchase a kit that has everything we need but not too much that its not portable.

Don't

And I mean Don't purchase premade kits. It's always much more cheaper and more efficient to purchase the supplies and bags cheaper by themselves. They normally come with 2-3 decent things, and a whole bunch of junk, and almost no resupply. They don't include surplus supplies, and are just an overall bad idea.

I work weekend nights in a city with a very large campus, so I think it's a bit of my Forte. I assume you're on a pretty constrained budget, so here's some of my suggestions.

Naloxone (Narcan): It's very likely that you can find these kits for free. Do some searching in your area, but most of the time municipalities or counties have appointed non-profits agencies which are given either purchased surpluses or kits which were award via lawsuits against the drug manufactures. Ask around or search, but I know many agencies which pay nothing for their naloxone.

Hand Suctions: All hand suctions suck, let's just get that out of the way. If you really want them though, don't waste your money on V-Vacs. You can buy this guy for 1/3 ($40 vs $120) the price, with replacement containers costing 1/2 ($11 vs. $22) the price. It'll suck just as bad, and you'll save that much more money.

Guaze Pads: ABD Pads are the best thing since sliced bread. Gunshot wounds, burns, skinned knees, road rash, ABD Pad has got your back. I dislike 4x4s even though they're kind of an accepted gauze pad of choice in most kits outside of EMS. An ABD (sometimes called combine pad) pad will run about .20-25 cents a pad in bulk, vs. 08-.12 cents a pad for 4x4, but they are so much more useful.

Roller Guaze: Find the cheapest small rolls of roller guaze you can find. Retail store/Pharmacy ones are find. Large rolls of Kirlex are much pricier, and really not as needed.

Bandaids: Cheapest at a retail store/Pharmacy.

Ice Packs: Cheapest at a retail store/Pharmacy.

Emisis Bags: This is the only thing I have to really add that you didn't mention. You'll need Emisis Bags for dealing with drunks. Really, you'll want these. They can be pretty pricey, and you'll want to order them in bulk. These from walmart.com are the cheapest I've seen. The plastic bag style are pretty much what you want, as they'll do the job for the cheapest price.

Bags: u/The_Jerk_Cat already gave my recommendation. These cheap ergodyne backpacks are pretty darn good, and the best thing at that price point. I would recommenced.

Just about all of these things can be found on either online, at specilty pharmacies, or in normal retailers. You'll need to shop around to find the best deals, but I think that's a pretty decent outline.

If there's anything else, I'm free to help on recommendations.

K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple, Stupid. Words to live by!

Gloves. Just your standard Nitrile gloves. I have a box in my closet with about 5 pair in my truck. Although with Texas summers here, I'd bet they've melted together by now. I should really check on that...

Safety Glasses Any brand will do. Just look for ANSI Z87.1. You'll probably never use them, or 90% of what's in your bag, but they're nice to have on hand.

Knife w/seat belt cutter & window punch. This is mine. I keep it on my trucks visor when I'm driving, and on me when I'm not. Cheap and useful. A little big though.

Simple Breathing mask. Always good to have around.

Gauze Rolls & Gauze Pads. I've used these a couple times, all on myself. I have the uncanny ability to fall when running outdoors. It's truly a gift.

Large SAM Splint. Surprisingly I've used two in only a year of building my kit. Once for myself, colles fracture from tripping, and the second time for a friend who slipped in my kitchen. We're not the most coordinated bunch.

And if you're feeling adventuress (sp?), Emergency Blanket, Cold Pack, & a Hot Pack. These aren't necessary, but nice to have if you have some extra $$$ to burn.

This is all i carry in my truck medical wise. It's also a good idea to have a flashlight on your vehicle or in the bag. Don't waste money on anything "fancy". You'll never use them and if you do you'll probably get sued.

I received a pre-stocked jump bag from a family member as a gift for getting my EMT cert. Came with OPA's, C-Collar, Adult/Pedi BVM, & a couple suture kits. These are no-no's. Good Samaritan laws won't protect you if you use these. DON'T BUY/USE THEM WHEN NOT ON A RIG! (The suture kits are another matter...just don't) I took these out of my bag completely.

TL;DR K.I.S.S. Avoid anything a non-EMS person couldn't use.

EDIT: Formatting

Those are generally crap... you'll want your own, but there is some good middle ground between top of the line and playschool ones typically found on the trucks.

I have had really great luck with the master classic II which can be found for around $80 if you shop around. The last time my Master Classic went for a walk off the buggy without me, I switched to the ADC612, it's a knock off MCII, but at half the price (around $40), and I think for field work is just as good, or slightly better.


Oh yeah, and a helpful hint when scope shopping... go with a long tube, it does lose some sound quality, but greatly lowers your chance of being thrown up on or bitten :D

I recommend the My First Human Body Coloring Book.

Nancy Caroline's Emergency Care in the Streets is always a classic of course. Let's read aloud now, together:

>One fine day, Sidney Sinus dispatched Mortimer Messenger with the usual order: "Depolarize the ventricles". Mortimer scampered down the atria without difficulty but arrived at the AV node to find a pile of debris blocking the entrance to the ventricles. "Sorry," said AV Abe, "we're closed for repairs."

Brilliant. Incisive prose. Even the littlest ambulance driver can save lives by following along!

It's kinda big, but I really like my S&W Border Guard knife. http://www.amazon.com/Smith-Wesson-Border-Rescue-SWBG2TS/dp/B0037F1B9E

Not too expensive, good blade and pretty good glass breaker too. It's my go to off duty knife.

2 other great ECG books

ECG Interpretation Made Incredibly Easy!

http://www.amazon.com/Interpretation-Made-Incredibly-Easy-Series/dp/1608312895/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1377718462&sr=8-2&keywords=ecg+made+easy

12-Lead ECG: The Art of Interpretation

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0763712841/ref=oh_details_o07_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Something like this is pretty cheap and doesn't look tacky if you care lol. I'd put it in pink though. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000SKD7UW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_5FxBybNJ8BQFY

I'm of the opinion stethoscopes actually do make good gifts, especially if the person in question isn't the type to go buy a fancy one for themselves. It is also more about the symbolism than the practicality as well. Even if the giftee in question doesn't medically have a lot to listen for.

The Littmann Master Classic II falls right within the high end of OP's budget, and is what I'd consider a decent 'gift quality' stethoscope.

If you're ok with just medical theme instead of specifically EMS, I really suggest checking out the book House of God. It's an older book, but it's spectacular. My parents (both RNs) recommended it to me when I was in high school and showing an interest in some sort of medical job. IMHO, a must read for anyone in medicine.

You didn't mention books but I am going to give you two anyways: You must read House of God by Samuel Shem. It's a really fantastic satirical novel about first year medical students. You should also check our Into the Breach: A Year of Life and Death with EMS. Sort of a wacker book, but still worth a read.

Also check out the movie Mother, Jugs, and Speed

Yep, this book right here. In the little Amazon preview, Acadian is in at least three of the pictures. That pretty much continues throughout.

Bringing Out the Dead, the book that inspired the cult classic movie by the same name.

A Paramedic's Story: Life, Death, and Everything in Between, which was written by a guy who writes a popular EMS blog.

Paradise General is a great book about the doctors and surgeons who served in Iraq during The Surge.

http://www.amazon.com/Smith-Wesson-SWW-455-EMT-Black-Nylon/dp/B0012L8BG6.

It was a gift, and it's been great. Might get a new band for it though, since the one it comes with is velcro and kinda itchy.

EDIT: The star of life is a sticker like thing on the inside, but that's so when you light up the watch it stands out against the illuminated background.

G-shock. Survived countless bleach baths. Lots of models available too

One I currently use:DW5600E-1V G-Shock Classic Digital Watch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GAYQKY/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_OP4xxbF3C9K4K

Thank you so much!

https://www.amazon.com/EMT-Basic-Review-Manual-National-Certification/dp/0763744662/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1467719995&sr=8-4&keywords=emt+training

Would this be a good resource? I also see this and am not certain if it's something I'll have to buy, should buy, or that would be provided for me, were I to enroll in a course.

I have these, they're inexpensive, and they seem to work much better than the cheap shears my company buys.

http://www.amazon.com/Clauss-Titanium-Bonded-Bent-Snips/dp/B000XB4U0C/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1367854274&sr=8-2&keywords=trauma+shears

Nice, I have this one because I'm fancy.

I wear this: http://www.amazon.com/Casio-A158W-1-Classic-Digital-Bracelet/dp/B000GAYQJ0/

I love it because the button on the right switches between 12hr and 24hr time. Perfect for report and note writing. And it's cheap enough to be semi-disposable. Only complaint is the metal clasp comes undone at times. You might want to look into the black with a rubber strap that won't come undone.

Recently put together my own, And i bought this
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001B5JPQS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_H-FMybW880E7F

I easily fit all my BLS gear in it.
Especially if this is just First Responder, EMR, this is all you really need. I keep dressings, gauze rolls, medtape, cpr mask(adult, infant), eyewash kit, Stethoscope, BP cuff, oximeter, and many more items, Keep in mind this bag does not come stocked.

edit: Can provide pictures and full list if you want. Total cost was around 200.

[Bringing Out the Dead] (https://www.amazon.com/Bringing-Out-Dead-Joe-Connelly/dp/0375700293) by Joe Connelly is an interesting book - I read it in EMT school on the recommendation of my instructor. Lately I've been reading [Rescuing Providence] (https://www.amazon.com/Rescuing-Providence-Michael-Morse/dp/158160629X) by Michael Morse. I like it so far but I haven't read much of it yet.

I've always been a fan of Zebra F-301 pens (and mechanical pencils).

http://www.amazon.com/Zebra-F-301-Stainless-Retractable-Ballpoint/dp/B001JT1ADW/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1333687997&sr=8-3

I've heard good things about this book http://www.amazon.com/Ventilator-Management-A-Pre-Hospital-Perspective/dp/1492299642

I haven't read it, but I listen to the guys podcast and he knows his stuff.

Verbal Judo may help, but ultimately there are going to be some unpopular decisions and actions on your part.

We are using This

As a female: Watch. : link. http://www.amazon.com/Smith-Wesson-SWW-455-EMT-Black-Nylon/dp/B0012L8BG6

Shout out for the G-Shock series of watches

Space Pen

Littman Stetho

MagLite

Glove pouch

Shears

Tool Holster


That's what I carried with a volly service.

Got the bell engraved by the shop I bought it from, also has a tag attached (Like these).

12-Lead ECG: The Art of Interpretation

Here is the mobile version of your link

I totally agree with this! I would just carry multiple triangular bandages, as there are so many purposes for them, they are very light, and if OP has a large bag, it can accommodate them. I would completely agree about the splinting, unless you are going to be in very rural or undeveloped areas, in which case I'd through in a SAM splint.

Oh, also I would carry some sort of cutting implement, (NOT FOR TISSUE,) and not necessarily even a knife, maybe just some mini trauma shears. IDK...

Edit: Specific to the rural/wilderness, throw in a space blanket/emergency blanket what have you.

Emergency Care And Transportation Of The Sick And Injured (Orange Book Series) https://www.amazon.com/dp/1284032841/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_Qe6Cub1D0X64E

I'm in the basic class now and this is my book. They offer online books also if that is cheaper. Any questions on anything in particular, feel free to ask me and I can look in my book for you!