What do Paramedics Carry With Them?

What do paramedics carry with them? Each paramedic carries different equipment on their person as part of their individual “necessities” required to assist in their ability to provide prehospital care. Some paramedics carry heavy pouches full to the brim of useless equipment, while others carry only the bare essentials needed to assist in the treatment of patients. As a paramedic, this is what I carry on me:

1. In my right trouser pocket I carry specific protocols, drug dose reference cards and a blank notepad.

2. In my left trouser pocket I carry my I-phone which allows an extra communication channel with dispatch, communication with the local hospital doctors and poisons info. I also have a variety of apps as references, such as Micromedex for medication references, language translators and a medical dictionary.

3. In my right breast pocket I carry a blank notepad.

4. In my left breast pocket I carry my wallet with a small amount of cash (for when I get stuck somewhere) and my ambulance identification card.

5. On my shoulder I carry a pen torch and a couple of pens.

6. On my belt I carry a pair of trauma shears which I use every day.

7. I also carry a pair of clear protective eyewear around my neck in case the patient becomes inclined to spit or I enter a motor vehicle crash where there is a risk of broken glass.

That’s it… I don’t carry anything else on my person. I find that if you try to carry too much on your belt or in a pouch, it usually sits on the dashboard of the ambulance and not at my side when I attend a sick patient.