Equipment Check

When starting a new shift, the team should come together to check all the equipment.

• Transfer is a fast-paced environment and teams need to be ready to launch at a moment’s notice. For this reason, many transfer teams perform daily or start-of-shift checks on essential equipment and transfer vehicles to ensure they are ready for action.
• In our video, you first see Caroline and Niraj using a checklist to ensure a structured approach to make sure they do not forget anything. They are doing this as a team, which is slicker and reassures both of them at the same time that the equipment is in working order.

It is important to document the equipment checks and escalate any problems to responsible staff immediately

• Even though the paramedics have done their checks before leaving their station they now take the team for another check to ensure the functionality and to help the team to familiarise themselves with the layout of the vehicle.

Note if the oxygen cylinders are not full and remember to refill them before embarking on a long-distance transfer

• If you have observers or new staff members, they should be orientated with the equipment and ambulance.
• As we mentioned in Week 1, these equipment checks are all part of mitigating risk.

Can you think of serious problems that may be prevented by checking the equipment and ambulance prior to transfer?

Please note: this video is a simulation and does not depict a real-life clinical event. The clinical details used in the simulation are invented and do not describe real patients. Everyone featured has kindly given their permission for the video to be used. The sequences for equipment checks have been shortened in this video. Familiarise yourself with specific manufacturers’ guidance for checking the equipment you use. We will cover equipment in more detail in Week 3.