Matt: Thanks for the reply. Amazing how similar we all dress in this profession. I don't carry a B/P cuff in the cargo pants, ours is in the trauma bag. I like that idea. May have to try it.

I do carry leather gloves in one cargo pocket. Nothing real fancy here, just regular ol' calfskin gloves from Wells-Lamont.

We don't wear armored vests either, unless you are on the SWAT team.

I wear a pair of combo sun and safety glasses from UVEX for auto extrication, except at night, then it is the clear ones. I normally carry these in the other cargo pocket.

take care,

Stargazer

We have a BP cuff in a trauma bag too but I prefer to have one on me just in case since equipment can go missing or break.

Matt

Great ideas/discussion - thanks, everyone!

Of course, if the thread continues... that's great - more info for me to digest. I'm sharing the info with my buddy because his son (older than my son and younger than Matt) should certify as a Paramedic in late December.

Thanks again,

Tom

I don't think this was mentioned but I would include a good, very bright flashlight such as a Streamlight Ultrastinger, Tigerlight FBOP, or as last resort, a Magcharger. In my experience in urban and rural environments there is never enough light to go around at night. Also, its easier to see street numbers that are set off the road with a good flashlight than using floods or alley lights.

A good trick is that if you are shorthanded you can stick the light in your back pocket and aim it at the ceiling. There will be enough reflected light for an inital assessment or to carry a patient down stairs.

Chris

A headlamp, like Petzl duo? hands free lighting, where hands are pretty neccesary.

Good catch - I mentioned it in a previous post but it's not in this thread. Just to keep all this stuff together: Pelican M6. Additional light that Matt suggested (and son would agree with) is an ARC AA.

My son admires the ARC AAA for EDC but feels that the ARC AA will be more suitable for duty because it is a tad larger, 1.5 v lithiums for cold weather use are commonly available, it can sit on its tail (room illumination), and it fits very nicely in the readily available headbands that allow AA diameter lights to be used as a hands-free headlamp. Comments, anyone?

OTOH... I'm thinking about building something on an AA minimag body with a single white LED and a clickie tailcap. AA or 2 x AA - haven't decided. Trivial to drop an Oplalec 3 x 5mm LED conversion in one, but that (and the terrastar2 Luxeon conversion) are too bright for checking pupils. Construction details will be better discussed on CPF, but does anyone here have any EMT form/function thoughts on a clickie + LED mod on a minimag AA body VS the ARC AA?

Tom

In addition to all the other stuff mentioned, a pencil sized spring loaded center punch for breaking tempered side and rear vehicle windows (carried in a pen slot in the pocket), maybe a pocket mask with one way valve, just in case he has to do CPR and his kit isn't handy (NEVER want to go bareback on a total stranger)...

Don't laugh, but in the Coast Guard I learned to say some simple prayers appropriate for all the major religons and had a crucifix, mezzuza, Saint Elmo's medallion and photo of his Holyness the Dalai Lamma( I cover my options <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />. ) A few times it was very usefull calming victims. A regretably few other occassions the families knew their people passed in the comfort of their beliefs.

Thanks - he already has one of the spring-loaded center punches (on sale at Harbor Freight again - less than 2 bucks, I think), but not sure if he carries it. Great idea on the back-up pocket mask - local Red Cross office sells several models otc at bargain prices. His first night, first patient, was a CPR case...

I'll pass that on - he won't laugh, believe me. (Actually, he's lurking around in here someplace - I saw where he signed up)