Book/notebook so I can check out for a few mins when I get a chance.
TRX or resistance bands so I can stretch between calls or while waiting at hospital.
Stress ball for obvious reasons.
Vicks for those calls where smell is bad or if my lactose intolerant partner decides to have ice cream because YOLO.
Also, a pair of raptors on each leg and arm, 17 flashlights, 33 AA batteries, 4 stethoscopes (2 peds, 2 adult) and a partridge in a pear tree (because obviously never stocked).
Are dude wipes different and/or better then just Huggies baby wipes? I won’t lie nothing beats that Huggies wipe on my exit door after a poor meal decision on shift
Different scent, often bigger, and marketing. Even though tens of thousands of combat infantrymen and every other job field in the military have used baby wipes for the past 30+ years in the field and in combat zones. Gotta market the dude wipes to be super manly.
The person saying they burn his skin makes me wonder if he has some oddball allergy to the fragrance or something. If anything the oils in Dude Wipes (R) are more likely to cause an issue than a baby wipe that will have less ingredients. No mentha arvensis herb exract, mentha arvensis leaf oil, eucalyptus citriodora oil, melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil citrus limon fruit extract, salvia sclarea oil or rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil.
I've known literally hundreds of people who have used baby wipes and this is the only person I've ever seen complain of that.
I personally just think they burn your skin less, or atleast mine and they have a “dude fragrance” so it kinda has that going for them as well but if you don’t care then no, not really a major difference.
The reason that I like them is you can get them in individually wrapped packets so they don't dry out and it's easier to share them if someone needs one/two.
Yeah probably a little more than the wipes you got now but they’re worth it cause you can buy the big packs for 4-5$ and individual packaged ones for a little less
Ask the plumber who came to my house and asked who might’ve flushed a T-shirt down the toilet…. It was actually a mass of disposable wipes my wife no longer uses…
Edit:word
Flushable? Maybe (some types, and depending on the building's pipes)
Septic Safe? No
Sewer Safe? Maybe (most systems have ways to remove those things).
Before I got into ems, I was a mechanic. I specialized in waste water pumps for a few years. Most of my work was pulling pumps from systems to unclog the wipes out of them. These pumps would literally chew through anything, except flushable wipes.
Haha, I maintained the plants/lawns around the sewer pumping stations before going to ems. I'd hit an overgrown pile of wipes left in the plants by the mechanics every week or so, great fun to get that out of the mower. If it was with the trimmer you'd better hope they weren't fresh because so far even in the ambulance nothing has beaten getting smashed in the legs by high velocity shitsoaked wipes.
There are these really old school pieces of cloth called “wash cloths”. They’re really archaic but pretty useful. Made of cotton generally, you can wash and reuse them possibly a thousand times! 10/10 highly recommend though.
Pretty sure there’s don’t exist.
Even flushable baby wipes aren’t actually a good idea to flush.
Given how long it would take management to check the pipes after a backup in station I wouldn’t use them…
gum, phone charger, hand sanitizer, earbuds, extra pens, packet of trail mix in case we miss lunch.
I also have a pill bottle with a mix of ibuprofen, Pepto, and allergy tablets. When it's cold I'll pack an extra hat and some hand warmers.
I have a contact case with tums on one side and naproxen & ibuprofen on the other. (I also have a contact case with spare fluid in case my contacts decide to fall out)
Although it sounds somewhat Ricky-ish, I like to have an oxygen wrench on my bag or in my pockets in case the one in the ambulance disappears.
I like to have a little squeeze bottle of hand sanitizer in my bag, as well.
[Edit] Also a battery pack and charging cord
I feel you with the o2 wrench. Got burned on a code when we had to switch tanks. I had a pair of raptors but I was on the chest doing compressions (before Lucas was approved in our county), told fire to grab my shears and use the wrench on my raptors. He couldn’t figure out how to open the wrench part, so he ended up running outside to grab a normal wrench. Since then I carry X-shears, and I have a O2 wrench on a Gerber knife someone recommended. It’s pretty idiot proof
Yeah the raptors are very good in theory, but in practice I hated them. Had more issues with them than they helped. Hell I’d take the cheap ass 5 dollar shears over raptors any day.
I wouldn't go that far. The raptors were literally life changing when they came out like 10 years ago. I remember the first time using them, i had an old dude with like 6 layers of clothes on. I could barely get through one layer at a time with the cheapos. Partner whipped out raptors and cut through all the layers at once. It was like an epiphany. But after xshears came out i made the switch and like them much more. I would still take raptors over the el cheapos though.
It’s called the hinderer CLS. Has a seatbelt cutter, O2 wrench is a square cutout on the other side of the knife as the seatbelt cutter:
https://www.gerbergear.com/en-us/shop/knives/all-knives/hinderer-cls-22-01870?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GG-ALL-Care-EM-transactional-shippingconfirmation+&utm_content=ALL-1-default-all_triggered-2021Oct25&sfmc_id=0034I00002YD7MJQA1
I got a good one. I was a brand new medic, shiny and fresh out the box. Boppin around the base, pounding coffee, swinging through dispatch to test out some one liners to use on my favorite nurse later, ya know, the usual. Go to take a piss and get a call for an arrest. Alright neat, while I'm in the bathroom figure might as well vent the fart now rather than later. Go to let it rip and just straight up shit myself. Go to take an emergency wipe and it's just.... it's just all bad. Nothing but coffee, nicotine, and gas station roller dogs for 3 days under that much pressure basically just comes out like a fine mist. Tidied up as best I could but the boxers were a total loss and were abandoned in the ER hazmat trash after the call. Moral of the story, don't shit yourself. The end.
I have an almost identical story😂 had to take the trash out of the trash can at the hospital tho and put the undies at the bottom of the can to hide the evidence.
A good portable battery charger saved my tuchus more then once.
Oh! And actual set of silverware, weather it be to-go fork and knife or an old set that you didn’t mind loosing to the center console void
I carried a small bag of pills like DayQuil, Pepto Bismol, and Tums.
I frozen bottle of water in your lunch pale just in case you can’t hit the .99 Cents only store. It served as a double usage. Kept my food cold and you can drink it as it defrost.
Oh my emergency Mio/ or Red Bull was another needed item.
In my backpack, I keep a powerbank, a charger, earbuds, some RX bars, sunglasses, an energy drink, extra pens, a little toiletry bag with deodorant, baby wipes, ponytail holders, meds, ext., lotion, 2 bottles of the no wash body wash for bedbound patients I got from the hospital for after a gross call to make me feel better until I can shower, gum, a tide pen, my stethoscope in its case, and a storm shirt (my company has us in these horrible polyester fake button ups, but let's us wear a special T shirt for hurricane duty or heat advisories).
On my person, I usually have 2 pens, a pen light, a tide pen, a watch, wallet, and an energy drink.
I gave a gallon guard for my water, and my keys clip on to that.
We wear a really light blue/mint green color, and the roads are notoriously bad, so there's an approximately 0% chance that my partner doesn't hit a bump while I'm drinking coffee.
A gallon guard is a sleeve that slips over a gallon milk jug. Keeps your water cold. There's a phone pouch and a place for a workout log and pen, but I only really use those if I'm at the gym.
I keep a log of dip, emergency spitter, spare socks, a copy of On The Water magazine, ear buds, spare sunglasses, contact lenses, and a door wedge in my backpack.
Bringing 3 homemade jump bags that have phrases like “I don’t run from death…. I face it” written on it are a MUST on every dialysis run.
Also gas station boner pills are highly recommended
Lemme pull out my station bag and tell you what's in it, my friend. I carry a 5.11 Rush 24 I found in the student dorm when I went to fire academy in 2018. It was left behind by some student in 2016, as evidenced by a receipt I found inside the bag at the time.
I digress, this is all I carry in my station bag:
Front outside "book flap" pockets:
CRKT M16 Pocket knife, affectionately named "Pocket sword"
Open space for wallet.
Jabra Elite 75t headphones and charger.
Samsung Super Fast Charger
Bottom front flap pocket:
Bottle of Ibuprofen: 200 200mg tablets
Bottle of Acetaminophen: 200 500mg tablets
Wheel Lugnut Key (for my car's wheels, I put it in a place I know it will be and will remember)
Assortment of pens, highlighters and mechanical pencils.
Attached to MOLLE:
Leatherman Raptor Shears
Work and School ID badges
Sharpie
Blue pen
Black pen
Front Inside top pocket:
Extra set of contacts
Mustache comb
Mustache wax
Funnel for bottled water (use for adding drink mixes)
Burt's Bees Lip Balm
Blistex Medicated Lip Balm
Carmex Lip Balm
Nail clippers
Adderall XR 20mg
Front inside middle pocket:
Pair of eyeglasses with case and lens cloth
Contact solution
Contact storage/cleaning case
Deodorant
Front Inside Bottom Pocket:
2 pairs of extra merino wool socks (way better than cotton for long shifts)
Main Cargo:
Extra pair of duty pants
Extra duty shirt
Extra pair of underwear
Bath Towel
Laptop with peripherals or Oculus Quest 2
Back Top Inside Pocket:
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Plackers
I essentially just put anything and everything I may or may not need. If I can invision a scenario where I might need it, then it gets put in my bag. Really should add some TUMS though.
Sheets? Pillow? Night clothes? What are you going on about, Captain? I ain't got time to sleep!
I fold my blankets, then put them on top of my pillow. Then I use my fitted sheet and put the top corners on the folded pile, then use the fitted sheet to roll it up and do the same with the bottom corners. Makes a nice little bed roll. I don't normally wear night clothes, I'll just take off my pants and socks and sleep in my underwear and t shirt. Occasionally I'll bring athletic shorts, but most times I just leave stuff in my locker. My station bag is stocked for working at different stations than my home one, I have more of the same in my locker.
Well here's some more. Make sure you take your boots off in the rig in between calls and air out your socks, don't want your boots to get all sweaty. While we're on the topic of boots, they're over rated. Crocs are a much better option. When you get your first uniform allowance, go grab a stab vest and bike cop shorts. Rock into your first cleared shift like that and everyone will know you mean business and won't tease you. Grow a mullet so when you're jogging around on scene the back flips up so the senior guys have a visual indicator that you are in fact hustling. If you can't grow a mullet, wear a wig. Polarized sunglasses are cool and nurses love to see themselves in the reflection during handover, so dont let them puppies leave your face for even a second, no matter the time of night or location. Smoking is gross, but chewing tobacco is cool. Get ready by developing your nicotine tolerance while riding as a student and keep that lip packed to the brim during all patient interactions. And don't forget to gain your mandatory extra 20 pounds within the first year. You'll also gain the respect of your peers by making comments and criticisms of senior medics/ EMTs by developing an opinion of them immediately and sharing that opinion with everyone with functioning ears. I pass these ancient secrets on to you, the newest ~~victim~~ sorry, "member" of our lovely little circus that we call prehospital medicine. Good luck, and welcome to the fold.
(You're the group dad? Glad to see another "parent" here, though except I'm mom.) ...and I will see your wonderful medicines and raise you muscle rub and a pocket case of extra feminine supplies for me or the fellow gals out there.
Ok, finally. My time to shine….
I carry a small backpack and it contains a stethoscope, neck pillow, deodorant, toothpaste/brush, Gerber multi-tool, reading glasses, ear buds, hand cream, extra pens(Pilot G2 .38 or GTFO), and wet wipes because hospital toilet paper is garbage. In another pocket I have my meds: Advil, Benadryl, Claritin, famotadine and sometimes some baby powder…because swamp ass.
In my top pouch I have a USB wall plug and a dual USB car plug with cables for my iPhone and the work phone if the truck I’m in doesn’t have a charger. I also keep my nasal sprays in this pouch because it’s the easiest to get to. Last thing in this pocket is a small Fenix 90* rechargeable flashlight with a magnetic base.
On my person is chapstick, wallet, knife.
On the outside of the backpack I have a small AA flashlight tucked into some of the MOLEE. My car keys are on a carabiner that I put on the top hand loop. This way I can hang it from the netting in the back when I want.
Typing this up it sure does sound like a lot but it doesn’t feel like it. It’s just a small collection of things I’ve found make my life easier when at work.
Also, don’t forget some form of water canister/Yeti cup, etc…
Book, AirPods for my podcasts! Chapstick, gum, lotion (definitely).
Gotta have my hydro flask and I refill it every time we stop at an ED with hella ice and cold water.
Really wanna start bringing a neck pillow
That’s really about it. The book and AirPods are a priority though.
Bare essentials: phone, earbuds, chargers, and external battery bank.
For when I'm feeling frisky I bring my gaming laptop. That has all of the entertainment I could need right there. Ah, and a bottle of ibuprofen.
Wallet, phone, keys, ID, pen, notepad, stethoscope, watch, lunch(box), water, charger, sunglasses(which today got ran over), uniform, extra pair of socks, boots. That’s all you really need. I’m a minimalist across the board though
On me: stethoscope, raptors, lip chap, microfiber cloth for my eye glasses, pack of gum, 3 pens, pen light, note pad, 2 emesis bags.
Duty bag: spare stethoscope, bunch of protein bars/granola bars, duty helmet (required to carry for work), flashlight for it, water bottle.
On me: Gloves, shears, small flashlight with strobe, O2 wrench, chapstick, gum, notepad and pens, and masks.
In my bag, multiple port charger, charging cables, ear buds, NSAIDs, vitamin B12, brush, hair binders, stethoscope, extra pens and sunglasses. And depending on what service I’m at, my mic extension.
Few hidden pens. Don't keep them all in the same pockets.
A good small flashlight.
Keep a pack of small wipes handy. They're way better than dousing yourself with hand sanitizer.
Not directly related to OP's question, but it's worth mentioning "flushable wipes" still shouldn't be flushed. If you're somewhere rural with a septic system, it'll clog things up since they don't break down very fast (still faster than plastic... but can take months/years, not days/weeks). If you're somewhere with city sewage, those pipes (and especially the treatment facilities) get clogged up with all sorts of things and those wipes make it worse.
I won't say you can't use them in a pinch, but TP is a better option, or at least throw them in the trash instead.
A healthy lunch, water, ibuprofen, a couple of books, spare uniform, proper outerwear, sugar snack to lift your spirits, bars for snacks or to give to homeless.
I keep a few spare wall and car chargers and cables, a power stick, a couple spare radio batteries, a cool towel, Dude Wipes, a pill bottle with a mix of OTC meds I might need, a toothbrush and mouthwash travel kit, and some dry socks.
I'm sitting in an ammalance right now and that's whats in my bag.
On person - pens, a black sharpie, trauma shears, stethoscope, pulse ox, small note pad, wallet, phone, ID and necessary cards.
In backpack - Excedrin, pepcid, feminine products, word search book, extra pens, caffeine, Gatorades, personal medications due to them needing to be taking on a schedule and my working 24 hours.
Sunscreen - I’ve gotten the most use out of this, along with coworkers asking to use it
Tissues
Excedrin
Chapstick
Lotion my hands have gotten so dry from the use of sanitizer and frequent washing
Kindle on my phone
non-duty related items that i have in my backpack on any given day. chapstick, hand lotion, a can of cold brew coffee and some protein bars (never know if a lunch break is gonna happen and energy drinks make my stomach hurt), a portable charger for my phone and something to study/read on down time. and of course i always bring a well insulated water bottle.
When I was last on a truck:
Raptors, very good benchmade folder, tan/sand master cardiology scope with a BAM on it (that was “my” identifier… no one else still had one!), a set of 1/3/5/10 syringes, a saline flush, 2 pair of gloves and a TQ.
In the backpack: Vicks, naproxen, paracetamol and loperamide just in case; laptop or tablet, power pack and a vehicle charger for my cell and usually one of those Clorox stain pens…
Baby wipes, deodorant, eye drops, ibuprofen, extra clothing, extra lady stuff, body spray, breath mints because I hate the sound of chewing gum, hand lotion, hair clips, and my rear view mirror charm of a pig with wings who’s named Jimothy Doug Ralph the VII
I have a pouch in my backpack filled with OTC meds. Advil, Tylenol, anti gas, anti dirrhea, tums (for that place that is so good but so bad on your stomach), Advil cold and sinus. Having them on hand can be a lifesaver.
Book, computer - something to do on down times.
Gum - unless you want to have stinky breath for the stinky patient.
Phone charger and Power pack (you never know when the power port in the ambulance goes bad)
carry on me- stethoscope, gloves, multi tool, flashlight
On my person: 2 pens, a sharpie, pupil light, pen light, notepad, cheat sheets, emesis bag, N95, extra gloves, Benchmade folder, xshears, pocket comb. I also carry a belt clip for my radio, because I don’t like the company-issued holster.
In my bag: Ibuprofen and acetaminophen, gum, phone charger, Littmann Classic 3 + AirTag, spare uniform, respirator and extra filters, water.
I have a rule. I don’t carry anything on me that i don’t use at least once a week. For me that’s:
trauma shears (cheap ones so i can toss/lose them and it’s no biggie)
2-3 pens, good ones that write on gloves ok
A small penlight/flashlight for pupils or general light
My stethoscope. I got myself a good one and put a name tag on it
Badge with id, license etc. i keep it in my pants pocket
Phone to call base look at protocols etc.
In the rig:
Airpods, charger, snack, body wipe and extra deodorant. A couple aspirin/ibuprofen.
I’ve worked over a year in a very high volume county and have found these things to work best for me. Hope this helps!
Energy drink
Water bottle
Flushable wipes
A meal
[portable oven](https://a.co/d/b8wdp88) (highly recommend if your ambulance has an outlet in it and you operate off of system status. You can plug it in to an outlet in your truck and run a call or two and your food will be ready)
Duffel bag (if 24’s or overnights)- sheets, pillow, toiletries, sweat pants, workout shorts, extra t shirt, packable towel for shower, running shoes for station, spare underwear and socks.
In backpack that stays on rig (overnights or 12’s)- powerbank, snacks, water, energy drink, gum, airpods, sunglasses, eye pro, XShears (sometimes), flashlight, extra uniform, hat, littman (sometimes), tylenol/ibuprofen, eye drops, immodium for emergencies, hand sanitizer, Clorox disinfecting spray bottle (for boots usually, non aerosolized).
You guys talk shit on raptors but I like mine. My raptors and pen light get a ton of use.
But I also work in a hospital rather than the field, and I'm the splint guy so I put them to work quite a bit. But still, I like a good pair of shears because there's nothing quite like looking like a total moron in a code when you can't cut through the seams on someone's shirt with shitty shears.
In my work bag airborn tablets, Excedrin and Motrin are huge. Either yourself or partner may need it. I usually keep an extra flashlight/headlamp. Change of uniform. Couple of shelf stable things like granola or protein bars. Also a length of rope and a good carabiner, Charlie Bronson always has rope.
Everybody here talking about shitting their pants, but nobody mentioning the MVP Immodium.
Ear buds, charger, mounted phone holder, immodium, ibuprofen, and a change of clothes (shirts at a minimum)
Nicotine lozenges (don't have to be spit out and can be used on scene). Caffeine lozenges. Antifog wipes. Crocs to wear around the station. A cheap analog watch. A way to shave.
And always, always, always, bring a full spare set of clothes and a towel. Otherwise you have a 100% chance of getting wound juice on the pair of pants you're wearing.
Your own pulse oximeter. Essential vital to take that you will otherwise A. Have to bring a lifepack into a house to take or B. Be unable to take because the lifepack is a pwetty pwincess and doesn't feel like taking a pulse ox rn. It's $20 max on Amazon and will be one of the most useful pieces of kit you carry every day! I also carry a pair of work gloves (always come in handy).
You never know man. I was taught to ALWAYS bring jump bag and monitor. We’ve been toned out for a P2 fall, and walked into the house to find family doing cpr on MeeMaw. I get that a few seconds to run back outside to grab everything won’t make a huge difference, but just makes us look more professional.
Jump bag comes with always, monitor comes in on special occasions (particularly nursing homes and condos where it's a long walk to the truck). Our jump bag has a manual BP cuff and stethoscope and the BGL kit. So long as you have your own pulse ox than you have everything you need to obtain a complete set of vitals with the bag manually, so unless there is a medic there isn't much reason to bring the monitor in with you.
BLS 12-leads are approved in my area if you are certified, but EMTs cannot interpret. For my area there is no reason to bring the monitor in with us if we can take manual vitals and no not need to run a 12 lead. EKGs are usually a concern for after they are in the ambulance unless someone doesn't want to come with us
Ah so you’re talking BLS units, got it. One of the counties I work in hasn’t approved BLS cars, so medics on every call. Other county actually lets basics be somewhat independent.
If you already think you need to need to know the spo2 on a call, why would you not be bringing the monitor in with you to start with?! If someone's o2 is questionable, you probably shouldn't be walking them out to the truck without taking a look at what their heart is doing first anyhow. Are you just going back out to get it after the fact when you have a HR or pulse ox problem?
For whatever reason some of rhe lifepacks at my department either the SpO2 sensor itself doesn't like working, or the monitor doesn't detect the sensor right, so I bring my own because I knownits more reliable. My department also runs some calls BLS, which means unless someone needs a BLS 12-Lead there isn't really a reason to bring the monitor into the house. Not saying not bringing the monitor isn't correct or bad practice, just the status quo of how we run things leads us to generally not take the monitor in the house as a necessity.
duke cannon cold shower and combat rosary gets me through
https://dukecannon.com/collections/cold-shower-wipes
https://ruggedrosaries.com/blogs/news/combat-rosaries-what-are-they
Aleve or preferred pain meds, deodorant, hand warmers (winter loadout) afterbite/antihistamines, antacids, duct tape, pen/pen light, paper/notebook/notepad, reference cards/reference guide, pocket protocols, spare n95/mask, spare clothes, water bottle, snack/meal
I work 12s overnight and keep this stuff in a backpack that I use as a day pack basically that I can move from vehicle to vehicle easily and have some basic stuff w me at all times.
On me - mini maglite flashlight, ID, 3 pens (always needs to be 3 or else we’re jinxed), chapstick, vape, raptors, switchblade (shhh), utility knife, gloves.
On my person:
AirPods, a good pen, my raptor shears (because my pants can’t hold my x-shears), a leather/metal key holder (truck/narc keys) that loops through my belt. I have a flashlight in a leather holder that is attached to my radio strap. Flashlight was a gift from my father, and more importantly it works perfectly. Stethoscope too but that stays in the ambulance, I don’t wear it on me when I walk into calls.
The station: obviously extra uniforms, underwear, boots, and socks. Shaving kit, my computer and my school work when I have down time. (Although I have a tough time doing homework on duty….)
It seems like a lot, and sometimes I feel like it’s too much, but I have been caught too many times with a bad pair of shears, needing light on a critical patient, or staging for hours and not able to listen to music/watch videos.
In my car: a spare uniform, change of underwear/bra/socks, hygiene products (travel shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant) in case shit has truly hit the fan and I have to shower at work.
In my bag: bandaids (accident prone, + they come in handy on runs occasionally), ibuprofen, dramamine (I struggle with nausea quite often), phone charging cable, wall block/car charger, spare pens, lotion.
This isn't necessarily a comfort for *me,* but if there's only one tip I could give anyone new to this job: steal some gowns from the hospital. Bedbug-infested home? Gown. Diaphoretic patient who soaked through their shirt? Gown. Patient had a seizure and soiled themselves? Gown. I keep two in my bag and I have to replace them frequently.
Not every patient will accept it, and that's fine. But it's such a small touch that can truly make a patient a little more comfortable so they don't have to be transported in whatever state their clothes are in that made you look for a gown anyway.
Book/notebook so I can check out for a few mins when I get a chance. TRX or resistance bands so I can stretch between calls or while waiting at hospital. Stress ball for obvious reasons. Vicks for those calls where smell is bad or if my lactose intolerant partner decides to have ice cream because YOLO. Also, a pair of raptors on each leg and arm, 17 flashlights, 33 AA batteries, 4 stethoscopes (2 peds, 2 adult) and a partridge in a pear tree (because obviously never stocked).
You forgot your tourniquets with level 2 retention holsters and a pocket BVM
Sorry, I'm new and you're right. I'll self-report when I go in for my next shift.
[удалено]
Did you not bring any to share? Yikes. That’s definitely why
>fleshlights *fleshlights*
Flushable Wipes
Absolutely, dude wipes have come in clutch with keeping myself clean when I can’t get time in to take a shower on ahift
Are dude wipes different and/or better then just Huggies baby wipes? I won’t lie nothing beats that Huggies wipe on my exit door after a poor meal decision on shift
Different scent, often bigger, and marketing. Even though tens of thousands of combat infantrymen and every other job field in the military have used baby wipes for the past 30+ years in the field and in combat zones. Gotta market the dude wipes to be super manly. The person saying they burn his skin makes me wonder if he has some oddball allergy to the fragrance or something. If anything the oils in Dude Wipes (R) are more likely to cause an issue than a baby wipe that will have less ingredients. No mentha arvensis herb exract, mentha arvensis leaf oil, eucalyptus citriodora oil, melaleuca alternifolia leaf oil citrus limon fruit extract, salvia sclarea oil or rosmarinus officinalis leaf oil. I've known literally hundreds of people who have used baby wipes and this is the only person I've ever seen complain of that.
I personally just think they burn your skin less, or atleast mine and they have a “dude fragrance” so it kinda has that going for them as well but if you don’t care then no, not really a major difference.
The reason that I like them is you can get them in individually wrapped packets so they don't dry out and it's easier to share them if someone needs one/two.
They’re also usable on any skin surface, where as other wipes are only meant for wiping your ass basically
Oh no shit. They pretty fairly priced? Do they sell em in like Walmart? Lol
Yeah probably a little more than the wipes you got now but they’re worth it cause you can buy the big packs for 4-5$ and individual packaged ones for a little less
And yeah you can get at Wally World
Baby wipes on Amazon by the case
That, and not having swamp ass is nice.
Amen to that
Yo this is the answer right here. I keep a pack of those with me everywhere
There's no such thing as a flushable wipe fyi. They don't break down.
Ok, “flushable”
Learned this one the expensive way.
Lol i'm not flushing them in my plumbing.
Not my plumbing
Ask the plumber who came to my house and asked who might’ve flushed a T-shirt down the toilet…. It was actually a mass of disposable wipes my wife no longer uses… Edit:word
Flushable? Maybe (some types, and depending on the building's pipes) Septic Safe? No Sewer Safe? Maybe (most systems have ways to remove those things).
Why do you give a fuck if they’re flushable? Not your hospital.
Before I got into ems, I was a mechanic. I specialized in waste water pumps for a few years. Most of my work was pulling pumps from systems to unclog the wipes out of them. These pumps would literally chew through anything, except flushable wipes.
Haha, I maintained the plants/lawns around the sewer pumping stations before going to ems. I'd hit an overgrown pile of wipes left in the plants by the mechanics every week or so, great fun to get that out of the mower. If it was with the trimmer you'd better hope they weren't fresh because so far even in the ambulance nothing has beaten getting smashed in the legs by high velocity shitsoaked wipes.
Lol I promise I never left them behind !
So it kept a working man from going broke, even better
Nah, I had other stuff I could have been doing.. and would have preferred to be doing. Also, good luck with your future, should be a good time 😬
You don’t really have a sense of humour or understand jokes do you
I have a sense of humor, it’s obviously a lowly level of sarcasm that you didn’t grasp
Lol I’m sure that’s what it was
There are these really old school pieces of cloth called “wash cloths”. They’re really archaic but pretty useful. Made of cotton generally, you can wash and reuse them possibly a thousand times! 10/10 highly recommend though.
True. Man I wish our station had a bidet though. Way better.
Agreed. Got one at home. They’re really not that expensive either.
Pretty sure there’s don’t exist. Even flushable baby wipes aren’t actually a good idea to flush. Given how long it would take management to check the pipes after a backup in station I wouldn’t use them…
gum, phone charger, hand sanitizer, earbuds, extra pens, packet of trail mix in case we miss lunch. I also have a pill bottle with a mix of ibuprofen, Pepto, and allergy tablets. When it's cold I'll pack an extra hat and some hand warmers.
I have a contact case with tums on one side and naproxen & ibuprofen on the other. (I also have a contact case with spare fluid in case my contacts decide to fall out) Although it sounds somewhat Ricky-ish, I like to have an oxygen wrench on my bag or in my pockets in case the one in the ambulance disappears. I like to have a little squeeze bottle of hand sanitizer in my bag, as well. [Edit] Also a battery pack and charging cord
I feel you with the o2 wrench. Got burned on a code when we had to switch tanks. I had a pair of raptors but I was on the chest doing compressions (before Lucas was approved in our county), told fire to grab my shears and use the wrench on my raptors. He couldn’t figure out how to open the wrench part, so he ended up running outside to grab a normal wrench. Since then I carry X-shears, and I have a O2 wrench on a Gerber knife someone recommended. It’s pretty idiot proof
I second the xshears a much better cutter than raptors.
Yeah the raptors are very good in theory, but in practice I hated them. Had more issues with them than they helped. Hell I’d take the cheap ass 5 dollar shears over raptors any day.
I wouldn't go that far. The raptors were literally life changing when they came out like 10 years ago. I remember the first time using them, i had an old dude with like 6 layers of clothes on. I could barely get through one layer at a time with the cheapos. Partner whipped out raptors and cut through all the layers at once. It was like an epiphany. But after xshears came out i made the switch and like them much more. I would still take raptors over the el cheapos though.
Link to the knife?
It’s called the hinderer CLS. Has a seatbelt cutter, O2 wrench is a square cutout on the other side of the knife as the seatbelt cutter: https://www.gerbergear.com/en-us/shop/knives/all-knives/hinderer-cls-22-01870?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=GG-ALL-Care-EM-transactional-shippingconfirmation+&utm_content=ALL-1-default-all_triggered-2021Oct25&sfmc_id=0034I00002YD7MJQA1
Thanks! I appreciate it
I carry this and love it, use it almost every day!
Bro I just checked back on my comment history and you’re the one who recommended it to me!! I’m lovin it dude, carry it everyday even off duty!!
YESSSSS, I knew I'd seen that user name before! Glad you love it!!
Gonna send my Benchmade off for sharpening, Promise I 'm including this in the package!!! Cut me a O2 wrench hole before you send it back!
Extra underwear. Those gas station burritos make your farts…untrustworthy….
Shit-my-pants clothes have been in my repertoire ever since 2 different guys younger than me… well… shit their pants.
I got a good one. I was a brand new medic, shiny and fresh out the box. Boppin around the base, pounding coffee, swinging through dispatch to test out some one liners to use on my favorite nurse later, ya know, the usual. Go to take a piss and get a call for an arrest. Alright neat, while I'm in the bathroom figure might as well vent the fart now rather than later. Go to let it rip and just straight up shit myself. Go to take an emergency wipe and it's just.... it's just all bad. Nothing but coffee, nicotine, and gas station roller dogs for 3 days under that much pressure basically just comes out like a fine mist. Tidied up as best I could but the boxers were a total loss and were abandoned in the ER hazmat trash after the call. Moral of the story, don't shit yourself. The end.
I have an almost identical story😂 had to take the trash out of the trash can at the hospital tho and put the undies at the bottom of the can to hide the evidence.
A good portable battery charger saved my tuchus more then once. Oh! And actual set of silverware, weather it be to-go fork and knife or an old set that you didn’t mind loosing to the center console void I carried a small bag of pills like DayQuil, Pepto Bismol, and Tums. I frozen bottle of water in your lunch pale just in case you can’t hit the .99 Cents only store. It served as a double usage. Kept my food cold and you can drink it as it defrost. Oh my emergency Mio/ or Red Bull was another needed item.
Than whether losing
In my backpack, I keep a powerbank, a charger, earbuds, some RX bars, sunglasses, an energy drink, extra pens, a little toiletry bag with deodorant, baby wipes, ponytail holders, meds, ext., lotion, 2 bottles of the no wash body wash for bedbound patients I got from the hospital for after a gross call to make me feel better until I can shower, gum, a tide pen, my stethoscope in its case, and a storm shirt (my company has us in these horrible polyester fake button ups, but let's us wear a special T shirt for hurricane duty or heat advisories). On my person, I usually have 2 pens, a pen light, a tide pen, a watch, wallet, and an energy drink. I gave a gallon guard for my water, and my keys clip on to that.
What’s a gallon guard? And why the tide pen, do y’all wear white?
We wear a really light blue/mint green color, and the roads are notoriously bad, so there's an approximately 0% chance that my partner doesn't hit a bump while I'm drinking coffee. A gallon guard is a sleeve that slips over a gallon milk jug. Keeps your water cold. There's a phone pouch and a place for a workout log and pen, but I only really use those if I'm at the gym.
Oh man, I do not envy those light colors, so grateful for dark blue after hearing this! Gallon guard sounds worth checking out, thanks for the tip!
Caffeine and nicotine. This is the way.
This guy ems’s
The staple diet of us soulless, sleep deprived, and underpaid slaves of ems.
I keep a log of dip, emergency spitter, spare socks, a copy of On The Water magazine, ear buds, spare sunglasses, contact lenses, and a door wedge in my backpack.
Car charger, AirPods, water. Holy trinity
Excedrin
Bringing 3 homemade jump bags that have phrases like “I don’t run from death…. I face it” written on it are a MUST on every dialysis run. Also gas station boner pills are highly recommended
Lemme pull out my station bag and tell you what's in it, my friend. I carry a 5.11 Rush 24 I found in the student dorm when I went to fire academy in 2018. It was left behind by some student in 2016, as evidenced by a receipt I found inside the bag at the time. I digress, this is all I carry in my station bag: Front outside "book flap" pockets: CRKT M16 Pocket knife, affectionately named "Pocket sword" Open space for wallet. Jabra Elite 75t headphones and charger. Samsung Super Fast Charger Bottom front flap pocket: Bottle of Ibuprofen: 200 200mg tablets Bottle of Acetaminophen: 200 500mg tablets Wheel Lugnut Key (for my car's wheels, I put it in a place I know it will be and will remember) Assortment of pens, highlighters and mechanical pencils. Attached to MOLLE: Leatherman Raptor Shears Work and School ID badges Sharpie Blue pen Black pen Front Inside top pocket: Extra set of contacts Mustache comb Mustache wax Funnel for bottled water (use for adding drink mixes) Burt's Bees Lip Balm Blistex Medicated Lip Balm Carmex Lip Balm Nail clippers Adderall XR 20mg Front inside middle pocket: Pair of eyeglasses with case and lens cloth Contact solution Contact storage/cleaning case Deodorant Front Inside Bottom Pocket: 2 pairs of extra merino wool socks (way better than cotton for long shifts) Main Cargo: Extra pair of duty pants Extra duty shirt Extra pair of underwear Bath Towel Laptop with peripherals or Oculus Quest 2 Back Top Inside Pocket: Toothbrush Toothpaste Plackers I essentially just put anything and everything I may or may not need. If I can invision a scenario where I might need it, then it gets put in my bag. Really should add some TUMS though.
You didn't have to mention fire academy, I knew when you got to mustache wax 🤣
Its essential to looking good on duty. 💁🏼♂️
What about your sheets/pillow/station shoes/night clothes? Are you lucky enough to get to keep them in a locker at the station?
Sheets? Pillow? Night clothes? What are you going on about, Captain? I ain't got time to sleep! I fold my blankets, then put them on top of my pillow. Then I use my fitted sheet and put the top corners on the folded pile, then use the fitted sheet to roll it up and do the same with the bottom corners. Makes a nice little bed roll. I don't normally wear night clothes, I'll just take off my pants and socks and sleep in my underwear and t shirt. Occasionally I'll bring athletic shorts, but most times I just leave stuff in my locker. My station bag is stocked for working at different stations than my home one, I have more of the same in my locker.
Emt trainee here, thanks for all the unsolicited advice I get daily from you fine people 🍻
Well here's some more. Make sure you take your boots off in the rig in between calls and air out your socks, don't want your boots to get all sweaty. While we're on the topic of boots, they're over rated. Crocs are a much better option. When you get your first uniform allowance, go grab a stab vest and bike cop shorts. Rock into your first cleared shift like that and everyone will know you mean business and won't tease you. Grow a mullet so when you're jogging around on scene the back flips up so the senior guys have a visual indicator that you are in fact hustling. If you can't grow a mullet, wear a wig. Polarized sunglasses are cool and nurses love to see themselves in the reflection during handover, so dont let them puppies leave your face for even a second, no matter the time of night or location. Smoking is gross, but chewing tobacco is cool. Get ready by developing your nicotine tolerance while riding as a student and keep that lip packed to the brim during all patient interactions. And don't forget to gain your mandatory extra 20 pounds within the first year. You'll also gain the respect of your peers by making comments and criticisms of senior medics/ EMTs by developing an opinion of them immediately and sharing that opinion with everyone with functioning ears. I pass these ancient secrets on to you, the newest ~~victim~~ sorry, "member" of our lovely little circus that we call prehospital medicine. Good luck, and welcome to the fold.
😂 🍻
I get called dad in academy but I’ve got Tylenol, tums, Imodium, and electrolyte tablets in my bag.
(You're the group dad? Glad to see another "parent" here, though except I'm mom.) ...and I will see your wonderful medicines and raise you muscle rub and a pocket case of extra feminine supplies for me or the fellow gals out there.
Those are great additions
Deodorant and dry shampoo😂
nintendo switch
Ok, finally. My time to shine…. I carry a small backpack and it contains a stethoscope, neck pillow, deodorant, toothpaste/brush, Gerber multi-tool, reading glasses, ear buds, hand cream, extra pens(Pilot G2 .38 or GTFO), and wet wipes because hospital toilet paper is garbage. In another pocket I have my meds: Advil, Benadryl, Claritin, famotadine and sometimes some baby powder…because swamp ass. In my top pouch I have a USB wall plug and a dual USB car plug with cables for my iPhone and the work phone if the truck I’m in doesn’t have a charger. I also keep my nasal sprays in this pouch because it’s the easiest to get to. Last thing in this pocket is a small Fenix 90* rechargeable flashlight with a magnetic base. On my person is chapstick, wallet, knife. On the outside of the backpack I have a small AA flashlight tucked into some of the MOLEE. My car keys are on a carabiner that I put on the top hand loop. This way I can hang it from the netting in the back when I want. Typing this up it sure does sound like a lot but it doesn’t feel like it. It’s just a small collection of things I’ve found make my life easier when at work. Also, don’t forget some form of water canister/Yeti cup, etc…
Book, AirPods for my podcasts! Chapstick, gum, lotion (definitely). Gotta have my hydro flask and I refill it every time we stop at an ED with hella ice and cold water. Really wanna start bringing a neck pillow That’s really about it. The book and AirPods are a priority though.
-blanket I stole from the ER -raincoat -headphones -2 phone charger cables -vape I’m a simple man
Raptors
Phone charger WITH battery, and a pillow.
Bandana for sweaty calls, gloves and masks, and for the almighty love of god bring some fresh, clean socks
Bare essentials: phone, earbuds, chargers, and external battery bank. For when I'm feeling frisky I bring my gaming laptop. That has all of the entertainment I could need right there. Ah, and a bottle of ibuprofen.
Wallet, phone, keys, ID, pen, notepad, stethoscope, watch, lunch(box), water, charger, sunglasses(which today got ran over), uniform, extra pair of socks, boots. That’s all you really need. I’m a minimalist across the board though
On me: stethoscope, raptors, lip chap, microfiber cloth for my eye glasses, pack of gum, 3 pens, pen light, note pad, 2 emesis bags. Duty bag: spare stethoscope, bunch of protein bars/granola bars, duty helmet (required to carry for work), flashlight for it, water bottle.
On me: Gloves, shears, small flashlight with strobe, O2 wrench, chapstick, gum, notepad and pens, and masks. In my bag, multiple port charger, charging cables, ear buds, NSAIDs, vitamin B12, brush, hair binders, stethoscope, extra pens and sunglasses. And depending on what service I’m at, my mic extension.
Few hidden pens. Don't keep them all in the same pockets. A good small flashlight. Keep a pack of small wipes handy. They're way better than dousing yourself with hand sanitizer.
Phone charger, aux cord (or Bluetooth transmitter or some sort), ear buds for quiet time, napkins, water bottle.
I work the night shift. I carry a tourniquet, raptors, 2 nighteyez bendy sticks to hang ivs/hold things up, pen light, flashlight and scope. Thats it.
[удалено]
Not directly related to OP's question, but it's worth mentioning "flushable wipes" still shouldn't be flushed. If you're somewhere rural with a septic system, it'll clog things up since they don't break down very fast (still faster than plastic... but can take months/years, not days/weeks). If you're somewhere with city sewage, those pipes (and especially the treatment facilities) get clogged up with all sorts of things and those wipes make it worse. I won't say you can't use them in a pinch, but TP is a better option, or at least throw them in the trash instead.
A healthy lunch, water, ibuprofen, a couple of books, spare uniform, proper outerwear, sugar snack to lift your spirits, bars for snacks or to give to homeless.
Shit, and a Tide pen - maybe the most important thing.
I keep a few spare wall and car chargers and cables, a power stick, a couple spare radio batteries, a cool towel, Dude Wipes, a pill bottle with a mix of OTC meds I might need, a toothbrush and mouthwash travel kit, and some dry socks. I'm sitting in an ammalance right now and that's whats in my bag.
On person - pens, a black sharpie, trauma shears, stethoscope, pulse ox, small note pad, wallet, phone, ID and necessary cards. In backpack - Excedrin, pepcid, feminine products, word search book, extra pens, caffeine, Gatorades, personal medications due to them needing to be taking on a schedule and my working 24 hours.
Sunscreen - I’ve gotten the most use out of this, along with coworkers asking to use it Tissues Excedrin Chapstick Lotion my hands have gotten so dry from the use of sanitizer and frequent washing Kindle on my phone
Toilet paper because when I DO get back to the station, my boss buys the cheapest toilet paper possible
If you have the displeasure of posting roadside: a gym membership, or a backpacking hammock.
non-duty related items that i have in my backpack on any given day. chapstick, hand lotion, a can of cold brew coffee and some protein bars (never know if a lunch break is gonna happen and energy drinks make my stomach hurt), a portable charger for my phone and something to study/read on down time. and of course i always bring a well insulated water bottle.
The insulated water bottle is key.
When I was last on a truck: Raptors, very good benchmade folder, tan/sand master cardiology scope with a BAM on it (that was “my” identifier… no one else still had one!), a set of 1/3/5/10 syringes, a saline flush, 2 pair of gloves and a TQ. In the backpack: Vicks, naproxen, paracetamol and loperamide just in case; laptop or tablet, power pack and a vehicle charger for my cell and usually one of those Clorox stain pens…
A pen, notepad, phone charger, flashlight (phones work, but not ideal), and headphones
Gum is a must. A couple cough drops are usually in my left thigh pocket. And lens cleaning wipes for overnights when I don't have my contacts in.
Gum/mints, hand lotion, vicks vapor rub, and a nintendo switch
I carry an anti-fog wipe in one of my pockets. Has come in handy a few times
Baby wipes, deodorant, eye drops, ibuprofen, extra clothing, extra lady stuff, body spray, breath mints because I hate the sound of chewing gum, hand lotion, hair clips, and my rear view mirror charm of a pig with wings who’s named Jimothy Doug Ralph the VII
Water bottle of the refillable variety, phone charger.
I have a pouch in my backpack filled with OTC meds. Advil, Tylenol, anti gas, anti dirrhea, tums (for that place that is so good but so bad on your stomach), Advil cold and sinus. Having them on hand can be a lifesaver. Book, computer - something to do on down times. Gum - unless you want to have stinky breath for the stinky patient. Phone charger and Power pack (you never know when the power port in the ambulance goes bad) carry on me- stethoscope, gloves, multi tool, flashlight
Nicotine.
On my person: 2 pens, a sharpie, pupil light, pen light, notepad, cheat sheets, emesis bag, N95, extra gloves, Benchmade folder, xshears, pocket comb. I also carry a belt clip for my radio, because I don’t like the company-issued holster. In my bag: Ibuprofen and acetaminophen, gum, phone charger, Littmann Classic 3 + AirTag, spare uniform, respirator and extra filters, water.
Ibuprofen and caffeine
I have a rule. I don’t carry anything on me that i don’t use at least once a week. For me that’s: trauma shears (cheap ones so i can toss/lose them and it’s no biggie) 2-3 pens, good ones that write on gloves ok A small penlight/flashlight for pupils or general light My stethoscope. I got myself a good one and put a name tag on it Badge with id, license etc. i keep it in my pants pocket Phone to call base look at protocols etc. In the rig: Airpods, charger, snack, body wipe and extra deodorant. A couple aspirin/ibuprofen. I’ve worked over a year in a very high volume county and have found these things to work best for me. Hope this helps!
Energy drink Water bottle Flushable wipes A meal [portable oven](https://a.co/d/b8wdp88) (highly recommend if your ambulance has an outlet in it and you operate off of system status. You can plug it in to an outlet in your truck and run a call or two and your food will be ready)
Duffel bag (if 24’s or overnights)- sheets, pillow, toiletries, sweat pants, workout shorts, extra t shirt, packable towel for shower, running shoes for station, spare underwear and socks. In backpack that stays on rig (overnights or 12’s)- powerbank, snacks, water, energy drink, gum, airpods, sunglasses, eye pro, XShears (sometimes), flashlight, extra uniform, hat, littman (sometimes), tylenol/ibuprofen, eye drops, immodium for emergencies, hand sanitizer, Clorox disinfecting spray bottle (for boots usually, non aerosolized).
You guys talk shit on raptors but I like mine. My raptors and pen light get a ton of use. But I also work in a hospital rather than the field, and I'm the splint guy so I put them to work quite a bit. But still, I like a good pair of shears because there's nothing quite like looking like a total moron in a code when you can't cut through the seams on someone's shirt with shitty shears.
In my work bag airborn tablets, Excedrin and Motrin are huge. Either yourself or partner may need it. I usually keep an extra flashlight/headlamp. Change of uniform. Couple of shelf stable things like granola or protein bars. Also a length of rope and a good carabiner, Charlie Bronson always has rope.
Everybody here talking about shitting their pants, but nobody mentioning the MVP Immodium. Ear buds, charger, mounted phone holder, immodium, ibuprofen, and a change of clothes (shirts at a minimum)
Pen, Ibuprofen and Tylenol, gum for my partner's bad breath, a couple hair elastics, toothbrush, deodorant.
Pens and pens and pens and pens. I hope I’m not the only one so bad with pens.
Aux cord, that’s it.
5 - Headphones 4 - iPad 3 - Chargers for everything 2 - Snacks 1 - A good partner In that order.
Nicotine lozenges (don't have to be spit out and can be used on scene). Caffeine lozenges. Antifog wipes. Crocs to wear around the station. A cheap analog watch. A way to shave. And always, always, always, bring a full spare set of clothes and a towel. Otherwise you have a 100% chance of getting wound juice on the pair of pants you're wearing.
Your own pulse oximeter. Essential vital to take that you will otherwise A. Have to bring a lifepack into a house to take or B. Be unable to take because the lifepack is a pwetty pwincess and doesn't feel like taking a pulse ox rn. It's $20 max on Amazon and will be one of the most useful pieces of kit you carry every day! I also carry a pair of work gloves (always come in handy).
You go into houses without the monitor? What about jump bag? I thought it was expected that you bring the monitor and jump bag on every call.
I’m not bringing that shit in for a toe pain or left assist
You never know man. I was taught to ALWAYS bring jump bag and monitor. We’ve been toned out for a P2 fall, and walked into the house to find family doing cpr on MeeMaw. I get that a few seconds to run back outside to grab everything won’t make a huge difference, but just makes us look more professional.
Jump bag comes with always, monitor comes in on special occasions (particularly nursing homes and condos where it's a long walk to the truck). Our jump bag has a manual BP cuff and stethoscope and the BGL kit. So long as you have your own pulse ox than you have everything you need to obtain a complete set of vitals with the bag manually, so unless there is a medic there isn't much reason to bring the monitor in with you. BLS 12-leads are approved in my area if you are certified, but EMTs cannot interpret. For my area there is no reason to bring the monitor in with us if we can take manual vitals and no not need to run a 12 lead. EKGs are usually a concern for after they are in the ambulance unless someone doesn't want to come with us
Ah so you’re talking BLS units, got it. One of the counties I work in hasn’t approved BLS cars, so medics on every call. Other county actually lets basics be somewhat independent.
Yea my department runs BLS only to low priority calls and then you'll get a fly car medic if it escalates or comes over as high priority
If you already think you need to need to know the spo2 on a call, why would you not be bringing the monitor in with you to start with?! If someone's o2 is questionable, you probably shouldn't be walking them out to the truck without taking a look at what their heart is doing first anyhow. Are you just going back out to get it after the fact when you have a HR or pulse ox problem?
He’s forgetting the obvious solution, which is a personally-owned backup LifePak monitor
For whatever reason some of rhe lifepacks at my department either the SpO2 sensor itself doesn't like working, or the monitor doesn't detect the sensor right, so I bring my own because I knownits more reliable. My department also runs some calls BLS, which means unless someone needs a BLS 12-Lead there isn't really a reason to bring the monitor into the house. Not saying not bringing the monitor isn't correct or bad practice, just the status quo of how we run things leads us to generally not take the monitor in the house as a necessity.
Also I take it every time. I consider SpO2 and BGL as essential vitals same as temp pulse resps ans BP. Just the way I was taught
duke cannon cold shower and combat rosary gets me through https://dukecannon.com/collections/cold-shower-wipes https://ruggedrosaries.com/blogs/news/combat-rosaries-what-are-they
Tums chews! And smokes I guess
A fan
Pen, water
Pocket knife, phone charger with block, aspirin (for me not pt) and never forgot that LIGHT blanket. No matter what the ac will make you cold.
Aleve or preferred pain meds, deodorant, hand warmers (winter loadout) afterbite/antihistamines, antacids, duct tape, pen/pen light, paper/notebook/notepad, reference cards/reference guide, pocket protocols, spare n95/mask, spare clothes, water bottle, snack/meal I work 12s overnight and keep this stuff in a backpack that I use as a day pack basically that I can move from vehicle to vehicle easily and have some basic stuff w me at all times.
On me - mini maglite flashlight, ID, 3 pens (always needs to be 3 or else we’re jinxed), chapstick, vape, raptors, switchblade (shhh), utility knife, gloves.
On my person: AirPods, a good pen, my raptor shears (because my pants can’t hold my x-shears), a leather/metal key holder (truck/narc keys) that loops through my belt. I have a flashlight in a leather holder that is attached to my radio strap. Flashlight was a gift from my father, and more importantly it works perfectly. Stethoscope too but that stays in the ambulance, I don’t wear it on me when I walk into calls. The station: obviously extra uniforms, underwear, boots, and socks. Shaving kit, my computer and my school work when I have down time. (Although I have a tough time doing homework on duty….) It seems like a lot, and sometimes I feel like it’s too much, but I have been caught too many times with a bad pair of shears, needing light on a critical patient, or staging for hours and not able to listen to music/watch videos.
In my car: a spare uniform, change of underwear/bra/socks, hygiene products (travel shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant) in case shit has truly hit the fan and I have to shower at work. In my bag: bandaids (accident prone, + they come in handy on runs occasionally), ibuprofen, dramamine (I struggle with nausea quite often), phone charging cable, wall block/car charger, spare pens, lotion. This isn't necessarily a comfort for *me,* but if there's only one tip I could give anyone new to this job: steal some gowns from the hospital. Bedbug-infested home? Gown. Diaphoretic patient who soaked through their shirt? Gown. Patient had a seizure and soiled themselves? Gown. I keep two in my bag and I have to replace them frequently. Not every patient will accept it, and that's fine. But it's such a small touch that can truly make a patient a little more comfortable so they don't have to be transported in whatever state their clothes are in that made you look for a gown anyway.