Emergency Cart

Definition of an Emergency Cart

An emergency cart or most commonly known

as “crash cart” is a wheeled cabinet or chest of
drawers which contains all of the equipment
necessary for emergency resuscitation, from latex
gloves to a defibrillator. Crash carts are conveniently
positioned throughout hospitals and some other
medical facilities so that they can be quickly accessed
in an emergency. It includes medication as well as the
equipment for defibrillation, intubation, intravenous
medication, and passage of central lines.

Purposes of Emergency Cart

To ensure availability of all drugs, equipment, and supplies necessary to

initiate advanced life-support measures.

To have the emergency cart and Defibrillator constantly ready for use in case
of life threatening condition such as cardiopulmonary arrest.

Indications of Emergency Cart

This emergency equipment is used only if the patient's heart or lungs stop
working. The cart is brought to the patient's bedside when the patient'sheart or
lungs are failing or have failed. Using the tools on a crash cart requires advanced
medical skills and certification in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), a medical
protocol which dictates which medical interventions should be used in an
emergency, and when.

Uses of Emergency Cart

It is used in hospital emergency rooms for transportation and dispensing of

emergency medication/equipment at site of medical/surgical emergency for life
support protocols (ACLS/ALS) to potentially save someone's life.

Contents of Emergency Cart

 Top of trolley :

1. Defibrillator & cardiac monitor

2. Adult paddles
3. Pedi-paddles
4. Conducting Gel
5. ECG cable
6. ECG paper
7. ECG electrode
8. Sphygmomanometer
9. Clock
10. Pediatric & adult stethoscope

11. Resuscitation bag with O2 tubing & reservoir (Infant, Pediatric, Adult)
12.Resuscitation mask (sizes: 0,1,2,3,4 & 5)
13. Drip stand
14. Sharps container
15. Tape of securing EET
16.Razor

 Side of cart :

1. Portable suction machine

2. Suction machine
3. Pediatric & adult yankauer sucker
4. Oxygen cylinder with:
 Pressure reducing valve
 Pressure gauge
 Nipple adaptor
 Cylinder key
 Flow meter
5. Oxygen tubing connected to the flow meter
6. Code blue performance quality sheet
7. Code blue attendance sheet

 Back of cart :

1. Adult & pediatric algorhythms

2. Cardiac board
3. Crash cart checklist
4. Resuscitation form
 Drawer 1 - Medications :

Drugs:

1. Adenosine
2. Amiodarone
3. Epinephrine
4. Flumazenil
5. Ketamine
6. Magnesium sulfate
7. Naloxone
8. Norepinephrine
9. Normal saline solution

10.Vasopression
11. Verapamil

Pre – mixed medications :

1. Atropine
2. Calcium chloride 10%
3. Dextrose 50%
4. Adrenaline
5. Lidocaine
6. Sodium bicarbonate
7. Dopamine 400mg/250ml

 Drawer 2 - Breathing and Airway

1. AMBU BAG
2. Artery forceps
3. Endotracheal tubes, Each size: 6.0, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0 12
4. Oxygen non-breather mask (infant, pediatric & adult )
5. Pediatric & adult oxygen nasal canella
6. Oral airway (sizes:0,1,2,3,4&5)
7. Minitrach
8. Pediatric & adult Magill's forceps
9. Scissors
10.Tongue depressors
11.Suction catheter
12.Nasogastric tube
13.Yankauer Suction Catheter
14.Lubricant
15.Tracheostomy tubes, Each size: Adult shiley blue box: #4, #6, #8
16.Inner Cannulas, Each size: Adult shiley blue box: #4, #6, #8

 Drawer 3 - IV Supplies

1. 3 ways stop-cocks
2. ABG syringes
3. Alcohol swabs
4. Angiocaths
5. Blood tube (red, blue & pink)
6. Butterflies (sizes: 21G, 23G & 25G)
7. Cardiac needle 20G
8. Needle (sizes: 18G, 21G & 25G)
9. Tourniquet
10.Transparent tape
11.Syringes (sizes : 1,3,5,10,20 & 50ml)
12.Intraosseous needle 18G
13.Scalpel with blade
14.Sterile gauze (size: 10×10)
15.Dressing (size: 10×10)
16.Skin disinfectant spray
17.Sutures (2.0 & 4.0 silk & cutting needle)
18.3 lumen central catheters
19.Chest tubes (sizes : 12, 14, 28 & 32fr)
20.Betadine solution

 Drawer 4 - I.V. Solutions & Tubing

1. D5W 500cc
2. D5W 250cc
3. D5W 500cc WITH LIDOCAINE .4% PRE-MIXED
4. LACTATED RINGERS 1000cc
5. NORMAL SALINE 1000cc
6. NORMAL SALINE 250cc
7. MACRODRIP
8. MICRODRIP
9. HORIZON CASSETTES
10.EXTENSION TUBING
11.BURETROL
12.BLOOD TUBING
13.ARMBOARDS

 Emergency Solutions / IVF

1. D5W 500cc/250cc (Dextrose in 50% water)- It is used to supply water and

calories to the body. It is also used as a mixing solution (diluent) for other IV
medications. Dextrose is a natural sugar found in the body and serves as a
major energy source. When used as an energy source, dextrose allows the
body to preserve its muscle mass.
2. LACTATED RINGERS 1000cc - is often used for fluid resuscitation after a blood
loss due to trauma, surgery, or a burn injury.
3. NORMAL SALINE SOLUTION 1000cc/250cc (NSS)- Normal saline can be used
to cleanse, irrigate, or moisturize wounds. It is also used in IV fluids for
dehydration and in contact lens solutions.
 The Emergency Cart

Parts :
 University of Baguio
Colloge of Nursing

In Partial fulfillment of the

Requirements of the subject :
Nursing Related Experience (NNCM 103)

A Research on Emergency Cart :

 Uses
 Indications
 Contents
 Emergency Drugs

Submitted to :

Ms. Dao – Ayen

Level IV – Clinical Instructor

Submitted by :
 Sorio, Milanee C.
BSN IV
NPF 1
MTW 7-3

May 2010
University of Baguio
College of Nursing

In Partial fulfillment of the

Requirements of the subject :
Nursing Related Experience (NNCM 103)

A Research on Emergency Cart

Submitted to :

Ms. Dao – Ayen

Level IV – Clinical Instructor

Submitted by :

Tabbilos, Einstein Schwartz

BSN IV
NPF 1
MTW 7-3
May 2010