--- title: The Critical Role of Battery-Powered Aspirators During MCIs description: When it comes to your battery-powered aspirator, there is really nothing that can take its place, which is why you must strategize when planning for an MCI. image: https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/Blog/ambulance-speed-road.jpg --- [![dark-header.jpg](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hub/212347/file-1107077240.jpg?width=940&name=file-1107077240.jpg "dark-header.jpg")](https://www.sscor.com/) ## **Thank you for visiting the SSCOR Blog.** Whether you're in a Hospital or EMS setting, this is the place for you. We'll share information on current industry news, tips, as well as the latest and greatest in SSCOR products. Our hope is that this blog is not only informative but a collaborative and open forum for you to share your thoughts on developing opportunities and challenges within your profession. Subscribe. Share your thoughts. Enjoy. -SSCOR Team   # [The Critical Role of Battery-Powered Aspirators During MCIs](https://blog.sscor.com/the-critical-role-of-battery-powered-aspirators-during-mcis) Posted by [Sam D. Say](https://blog.sscor.com/author/sam-d-say) Dec 14, 2017 4:30:00 AM 3 min read - [![LinkedIn Social Icon](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/142915/file-2628248555-png/images/icons/linkedin-small.png) ](https://blog.sscor.com/the-critical-role-of-battery-powered-aspirators-during-mcis#) 0 - [![Facebook Social Icon](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/142915/file-2623658044-png/images/icons/fb-small.png) ](https://blog.sscor.com/the-critical-role-of-battery-powered-aspirators-during-mcis#) 0 ![Ambulance driving down the road showing motion | Role of battery-powered aspirators](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog/ambulance-speed-road.jpg?width=700&name=ambulance-speed-road.jpg "Ambulance driving down the road showing motion | Role of battery-powered aspirators")   On September 16, 2017, Hurricane Maria, a massive storm with winds topping 170 mph, slammed into Puerto Rico, leaving behind over 60 dead, hundreds injured, and the entire island without power. Even 45 days after the storm, power had been restored to only 41 percent of the island, leaving thousands in the dark.¹ Natural disasters can wreak havoc—not only on towns and cities, but also on the responders tasked with caring for the injured and the dead. Imagine responding to a major storm, a powerful earthquake, or a cyber-attack that knocks out main power grids, and you can appreciate the challenges first responders must overcome in providing essential services. The key is preplanning: having detailed plans in place, staging practice scenarios involving response agencies from across the board, and ensuring your equipment needs are met in the event of a mass casualty incident. And one of the most essential pieces of rescue equipment is your [battery-powered aspirator](https://blog.sscor.com/finding-a-reliable-battery-operated-portable-suction-machine).   ## The Role of Aspirators During MCIs Emergency field medicine is all about improvising. And when you are faced with the added burden of an MCI, improvisation can be extreme. The scene itself may have to serve as the triage area; standing structures may serve as field hospitals; and cooling trucks may be commandeered as morgues. In a natural disaster, you must make do with what is available. But when it comes to your battery-powered aspirators, there is really nothing that can take its place. Which is why you must strategize when planning for an MCI. The following list provides some essential considerations. - What Type of Unit: Begin your plan by selecting the best battery-powered aspirator to meet your needs. This includes: - How Many Units: Depending on your agency's size and budget, you must decide how many units to purchase. If your service is part of a large community, where there are numerous mutual aid agencies available for MCIs, you may not require as many units as a more rural agency where backup would be delayed or nonexistent. - Catheters and Adjuncts: Don't forget to include extra catheters, tubing, and canisters when preparing for MCIs. Since the units may operate for long durations  on a successive number of patients, be sure you have plenty of replacement adjuncts available (and be sure to decontaminate the unit between patients). - Power Sources: It’s a given that you will need batteries for your battery- powered aspirators. This is especially true during MCIs caused by natural disasters, since electricity may be in short supply. Have plenty of extra batteries, or include aspirators capable of utilizing alternative power sources, such as defibrillator batteries. Your units are of no use if they don't have power. Consider devices that run on commonly available batteries, such as disposable [alkaline batteries](https://www.sscor.com/dcell_suction_hospital_aspirator.html). Devices powered in this way can run indefinitely. - Maintenance Is Essential: MCI trailers and their contents may sit for long periods between events. Equipment must be inventoried and up to date. As for your battery-powered aspirators, good [maintenance](https://blog.sscor.com/why-prioritize-suction-machine-maintenance) will ensure they are ready when needed. Here are some considerations: Preparing for multi-casualty incidents requires careful planning, intra-agency cooperation, and ensuring you have the appropriate equipment and supplies at the ready. And no piece of equipment is more critical than your battery-powered aspirator. Visualizing the cords during intubation or maintaining airway patency can only be accomplished through effective suctioning, so be sure your units are prepared for the next [disaster](https://blog.sscor.com/auditing-your-hospitals-disaster-preparedness-plan).   [![New Call-to-action](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/9612b368-68bd-40fd-8df2-b49e908313ab.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/9612b368-68bd-40fd-8df2-b49e908313ab) ¹ Federal Emergency Management Agency, Statistics: Progress in Puerto Rico.,2017. https://www.fema.gov/hurricane-maria. Topics: [Battery-powered suction](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/battery-powered-suction), [Emergency Preparedness](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/emergency-preparedness) ![Author Photo](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SDS2-648378-edited.jpg?width=70&name=SDS2-648378-edited.jpg) ## AboutSam D. Say Sam D. Say is owner and CEO of SSCOR, Inc., a medical device manufacturer specializing in emergency battery operated portable suction devices for the hospital and pre-hospital settings. Mr. Say has been involved in developing product for healthcare providers for over 35 years. His passions include contributing to the management of the patient airway and providing solutions that save lives in difficult conditions. 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