CHECK YOUR TRUCK !

[firedoc5]

I think practically everyone has been the victim of someone else dropping the ball every now and then. O2 tanks empty, supplies not resupplied, low fluid levels, etc. It had always been one of my pet peeves. But it made me more diligent checking things.

[stcommodore]

I typically spend about 30min checking the truck before a shift. That depends a lot on who was in the unit before me, did I work the shift before them, etc. Sometimes you put a little work into a unit and assuming your working with other good staff the truck should stay in shape for some time after that. If I'm working a 24, 36, etc on the same unit I'll only restock as the calls dictate. Typically after the truck check we'll wash it and get fuel if necessary.

Today I'm working a station I'm not typically at and is staff 4 nights a week but some volly staff when they decide to show up. So the career staff know to take a little extra time to make sure everything is where it should be.

I have a thing for a neat and minimally stocked IV tray so I have been known to spend a half hour on that alone on a bad day. I see no need for 5 22g's, 6 20g's, etc. We are not a very busy service and there is nothing worse then trying to pull an INT out of the tray and getting four other things all over the floor with it!

Like everything in EMS this is situation dependent but we should all be in the habit of checking the unit at the start of a tour, and teaching this habit to new providers.

[firedoc5]

Now our fire trucks took at least 30mins. each. Some days I'd have five trucks to check and maintain by myself. That was a real bummer.

[Richard B the EMT]

Each FDNY EMS ambulance has a compliment of 9 persons, 2 per 8 hour tour, the other 3 on regular days off. Some of the crews are so "tight" over all 3 tours, they do a "to the walls" inventory on one shift, the routine fluids check on the next, and the vehicle washing on the third. Everyone replaces disposable supplies used, either ASAP to the usage, or at the end of the tour. If the crew comes back from a "late job", one that brings them back to the station actually into the next tour, some actually hand a "shopping list" of known needed to replace stock to their relief crews, or give a verbal report to the same effect.

I feel I have to mention that the ALS supplies are transported vehicle to vehicle. If an ALS crew has to go into a spare vehicle, the BLS setup ambulance is converted to ALS in probably less than 5 minutes.