Did you know that the emergency cart segment of the medical market had the largest revenue share at 40.6%? The increasing use of emergency carts exemplifies the advances in the medical sector and the need for efficient and organized healthcare.
During a medical emergency, the difference between life and death can only be that of a millisecond. That is when a crash cart trolley comes to the rescue; it allows the medical staff to access life-saving equipment and medications quickly. Those extra few seconds can end up being the saving grace for a critically ill patient in a time-crunch situation.
In order to understand what makes these carts efficiently brilliant, it is first important to understand the distinctive features of these carts
Features of Crash Cart
Defibrillator and Heart Monitor
Defibrillators in the crash carts assist with cardiac emergencies. Some carts also contain automated external defibrillators, which can increase the chance of survival by more than 70% during a sudden cardiac arrest. Both the defibrillator and heart monitors are kept on top of the cart so they are easy to access.
Oxygen Tanks and Masks
Oxygen tanks and masks are crucial accessories in case of respiratory failure. The oxygen tanks are securely fastened on the side of the cart, which makes it easy for the medical staff to examine the oxygen level in the tank consistently.
Intubation Drawer
Intubation equipment comes in handy when it is necessary to open a patient’s airway. It contains intubation tubes of distinctive sizes, tongue depressors, syringes and various other intubation essentials.
IV Drawer
It is crucial to have an IV drawer for patients who are unable to receive medication orally or hydration. It also contains items like angiocatheters, disinfectants and vacutainers. This drawer is usually separated into an IV starter drawer and an IV maintenance drawer.
Medication Drawer
Even though life-saving equipment is necessary, vital Meds often act like a knight in shining armour in emergencies. These medications are usually stored in the first and second drawers so they are readily accessible.
Incorporating these essential components in a crash cart trolley has proved to be a handy solution in life-threatening cases. Even though initially, crash carts were created out of a necessity to have equipment on hand, their versatile usage is one of the many reasons why a crash cart is advantageous.
Let’s have a look at some of the reasons why it is deemed to be advantageous
Benefits of Crash Cart
Mobile
These carts are designed in such a way that they can be easily transferred from one spot to the other with the help of their swiveling wheels. Emergencies can occur anywhere and at anytime, so having a mobile solution with all the necessary equipment is highly beneficial. Crash cart trolleys are also constructed in such a way that they can easily fit into tight places.
Accessible
Medical staff have all essentials at their fingertips, like medications and equipment, which assists them in taking swift actions. A crash cart features room for defibrillators at the top, which gives the staff immediate access to this facility in case of cardiac emergencies. The cart also contains various drawers for stocking medications and intubation equipment.
Enhanced Quality of Care
Crash carts are designed in such a way that they improve the efficiency of the staff during an emergency. With immediate access to patient records and medical history, the medical staff’s emergency response time is quickened, and it prevents diagnostic errors. This improved workflow eventually results in an enhanced quality of care.
These benefits prove that crash carts have been a trademark of an invention in the history of hospital furniture in India. It’s exciting to see what the future has in store for us.
With the advent of state-of-the-art technologies, it’s not long before we see smart carts that have even more advanced features, like alerting the staff when a restocking of medication is required!
