UT-Harris County Psychiatric Center

Nursing Procedures

 

Emergency Medical Supplies Verification

Date of Last Review: 3/22/07
SME: Associate Director of Nursing

The integrity of the emergency medical supplies must be maintained for use in case of a life-threatening emergency.  The supplies allow staff to provide basic life support pending immediate transfer to a medical facility.

Procedure:

The medical emergency supplies listed below are kept in each treatment room.

1.      The emergency cart is secured with a break-away lock.  A list of all medications and their expiration dates are attached on the outside of the cart.

2. Suction machine

3. Ambu breathing bag and mask

4. O2 tank

All RN's must be familiar with the medication and their location in the emergency cart and all other emergency supplies.

1.Intact lock on the emergency cart

2. Suction machine operational

3. Ambu bag and mask present (hanging on the cart’s IV pole)

4. Oxygen tank

A. Amount of O2 in tank

B. Functionality O2 gauge

C. Oxygen tank key attached to cart

D. Oxygen tank secured on cart

 

5. AED (as applicable) styaff responsible for checking status indicator (i.e. if you see flashing black hourglass, the heartstream is ready for use. If hourglass isn't flashing refer to user's manual (Agilent Heartstream FR2)

The Pharmacy must be notified when:

1. The emergency cart is open

2.Emergency drugs have been used

3. Other irregularities are identified or suspected (ex. missing drugs)

Any non-functioning equipment must be replaced immediately.  Empty O2 tanks must be replaced.  Replacement tanks are located in the Lab, Room 1A72.

Related Standards: