Supplies you cannot live without

The basics need to be available in triage... Some of these sound so obvious but are not always available.

Blood pressure cuffs in all sizes

Pulse Oximetry in all sizes

Delivery kit

C-collars in all sizes

Backboard

EKG machine and plenty of stickers

Quick access gurney

Paper rulers to measure wounds etc.

Plenty of dressings, tape etc in all sizes

Emesis basins

Glucometer with plenty of strips

Small one time use packages of bubbles to entertain the little one's while trying to get them to hold still for vitals, lung sounds etc...

Coloring pages and crayons for the kids

The list goes on...

It's so frustrating when the waiting room is packed and basic supplies are either not available or not stocked. Valuable minutes wasted trying to track down what you need.

Ask the nurses and ED techs in your ward. I am sure they could come up with a list pretty easily. Also, you should do an inventory of what is in your supply area versus stocked at bedside if you have such an arrangement. It really does depend upon your unit and who is stocking what, and when. For instance, we had a problem in that the ED was stocked in the morning but before the ED techs stocked their bedsides. So supply thought everything was goo and then the ED tech would come in and wipe out the supply room. A few hours later the night tech would try to restock and things would be missing. Timing is everything. This is coming from a guy who used to be on the supply side of things at a level II trauma.