EMS Station Checklist

Emergency medical services (EMS) employs paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) who respond to medical emergencies, give medical care and transport patients to the hospital if needed. In order for paramedics and EMTs to respond quickly and efficiently, they need to keep their vehicles and station well organized and supplied. A checklist helps them achieve this.

Cleaning Checklist

• Each day the EMS station and its vehicles need to be cleaned to prevent contamination and infection. Empty the trash cans in the offices and ambulance bay. Clean the offices, female bunk room, male bunk room, kitchen area and all bathrooms. You also need to wash down the ambulances at the end of each shift. Some days these rooms and vehicles will require more in-depth cleaning than other days, so always clean the room or vehicle as needed.

Equipment Checklist

• When stocking the patient compartments in back of the ambulance, you want to have enough equipment and drugs to respond to at least two emergency calls of the same nature without going back to the station to restock. Make sure you have main oxygen (O2); airway bag O2; stretcher; spare O2 cylinders; main IV bags; a life pack with batteries and charger; portable suction; stair chair; three sets of collars, head block and straps; and ET kit. At the end of every month, you also need to inspect all your medications in the ambulance and station, dispose of any expired drugs and restock as needed.

Ambulance Cab Checklist

• To give proper care to patients, you must properly stock the ambulance and keep the vehicle maintained at the beginning of each shift. Check the oil, transmission and antifreeze level, and refill as needed. Make sure the vehicle's lights and siren work. In the cab of the ambulance, keep a pair of binoculars; flashlight; four map books; clipboard with patient information, billing and refusal forms; the infection control plan; emergency response guide; a box of small, medium and large gloves; safety vests; and a fuel card. At the end of the shift, refuel the ambulance so it has a full tank of gas for the next shift.

Paperwork Checklist

• You need to have all your paperwork filled out and properly completed at the end of each shift. This includes narcotics sheets, emergency ambulance information system reports, billing paperwork such as HIPPA and insurance forms, and the foundation call log.