A crash cart is a mobile cabinet that contains all the necessary equipment for emergency resuscitation, including a defibrillator and medical tools. It requires advanced medical skills and certification to use. The drawers are labeled and organized for quick access, and the equipment is regularly monitored. A well-trained emergency team operates like a smooth-running machine. Crash carts are brightly colored and easily identifiable, and it is common courtesy to step out of the way when one is in use.
A crash cart is a wheeled cabinet or chest of drawers that holds all the equipment needed for emergency resuscitation, from latex gloves to a defibrillator. Emergency carts are conveniently located in all hospitals and some other medical facilities so that they can be quickly accessed in the event of an emergency. Using the tools on an emergency cart requires advanced medical skills and certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), a medical protocol that dictates which medical interventions should be used in an emergency and when.
In some parts of the world, a crash cart is called a code cart, referring to the slang term “code” to refer to a patient in severe medical distress. British English-speaking nations refer to a bump cart as a bump cart or code. The life saving equipment on a crash cart is vital and for this reason, medical staff regularly monitor supply levels, ensuring tools are always available when they are needed. In some hospitals, a separate ‘code team’ is responsible for managing resuscitation and crash carts.
The drawers of a crash cart are clearly organized and labeled so medical personnel can get to what they need quickly. Drawers are usually divided into sections for adults and children, as medical tools and supplies come in different sizes for larger and smaller bodies. Commonly, drawers are divided into cardiac and respiratory sections, and a separate drawer can be used for storage of drugs used in resuscitation. Most shock carts also include a panel that snaps shut to prevent the drawers from opening and to discourage curious patients.
The series of surgeries involved in resuscitation can be chaotic and intimidating to people who are new to them, especially since medical personnel don’t have the time to explain what they are doing. Despite the appearance of chaos, the team of people performing a resuscitation are actually highly organized and each team member knows their role and steps in quickly to help if needed. A well-trained emergency team operates like a smooth-running machine that is also capable of making quick medical judgments that can save a patient’s life.
It’s generally quite easy to spot a crash cart from a room full of medical equipment, since crash carts are usually brightly colored to make them easy to identify. The wheels are often a tip, as is the defibrillator on top. If you see a crash cart rolling down a hospital corridor, it is common courtesy to step out of the way, just as you would stop your car for a passing ambulance. In emergency resuscitation, every second counts and staff don’t have time to ask people to leave.
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