Definition of a Crash Cart
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Locations
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Crash carts are used in hospitals, clinics and nursing homes as well as in ambulances and other emergency vehicles. Crash carts can be used anywhere that medical personnel work.
Devices
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Medical devices on crash carts can include cardiac defibrillators, cardiac monitors, oxygen masks, oxygen tanks, blood pressure cuffs and stethoscopes.
Drugs
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Many drugs are kept in the drawers of a crash cart, including, insulin, epinephrine, Benadryl, nitroglycerin, and various anesthetics and painkillers.
Miscellaneous Items
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Other items needed on crash carts include gloves, syringes, bandages, medical tape, alcohol swabs, sponges and tourniquets.
Organization
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Making sure crash carts are fully stocked and neatly organized is essential to saving minutes or even seconds that are critical to saving lives in an emergency. Medical personnel use checklists to make sure that each item is in its proper place after each time it is used.
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