Coats and Davies make the point in their article that the pre-
hospital arena is not an area where untrained and inexperienced doctors
can be expected to perform at a high level. However the point is also made
that all doctors may expect to pass or come across motor vehicle accidents
during their life time and should be able to provide at least good quality
first aid until other emergency services arrive at the scene. What
equipment is required to enable the inexperienced doctor to provide this
first aid?
The majority of preventable trauma deaths occuring before the
emergency services arrive are caused by an obstructed airway. Many doctors
carry ad-hoc pieces of equipment and kit "just in case", intra-venous
canulae or drips for example but in reality surprisingly little equipment
is actually required.
-A high visibility jacket is essential.
-A supply of latex gloves will enable airways to be cleared and opened and
pressure to be applied to bleeding points.
-A pocket mask will enable ventilatory support to be given to the apnoeic
patient (whether due to trauma or medical causes).
The medical practitioner can rely on all other supplies coming in the
ambulance response. This equipment will enable a doctor to save the vast
majority of salvagable trauma patients likely to expire in the time
between an accident occuring and an ambulance arriving and I would
recommend it as being cheap, easily aquired and with a long life.
Mark J Coates FIMC RCSEd
Member of Med-ALERT (All Lancashire Emergency Response Team)
Rapid Response:
Untrained Doctors first aid kit
Coats and Davies make the point in their article that the pre-
hospital arena is not an area where untrained and inexperienced doctors
can be expected to perform at a high level. However the point is also made
that all doctors may expect to pass or come across motor vehicle accidents
during their life time and should be able to provide at least good quality
first aid until other emergency services arrive at the scene. What
equipment is required to enable the inexperienced doctor to provide this
first aid?
The majority of preventable trauma deaths occuring before the
emergency services arrive are caused by an obstructed airway. Many doctors
carry ad-hoc pieces of equipment and kit "just in case", intra-venous
canulae or drips for example but in reality surprisingly little equipment
is actually required.
-A high visibility jacket is essential.
-A supply of latex gloves will enable airways to be cleared and opened and
pressure to be applied to bleeding points.
-A pocket mask will enable ventilatory support to be given to the apnoeic
patient (whether due to trauma or medical causes).
The medical practitioner can rely on all other supplies coming in the
ambulance response. This equipment will enable a doctor to save the vast
majority of salvagable trauma patients likely to expire in the time
between an accident occuring and an ambulance arriving and I would
recommend it as being cheap, easily aquired and with a long life.
Mark J Coates FIMC RCSEd
Member of Med-ALERT (All Lancashire Emergency Response Team)
Competing interests: No competing interests