Gizmos and Gadgets

A crash cart can be made from a handyman’s cart with multiple drawers in it (available from any hardware store) or fishing tool box. Each drawer should be labeled. Foam padding can be used to line each drawer and holes can be cut out of the foam to hold tube and bottles in place. The first drawer should contain airway materials - endotracheal tubes, a long polypropylene 3.5 or 5 Fr catheter for instilling drugs intratracheally during CPR, forceps for removal of foreign material and a scalpel or Mayo scissors for surgical airways. Mechanic’s helpers available from any automotive store make very useful grabbers for oral, airway and esophageal foreign bodies. Each endotracheal tube should have a partially inflated syringe attached to the cuff and gauze attached to the tube for securing the airway once it is in place ...