Emergencies can happen anywhere. Wherever humans go, medical emergencies will follow, regardless of time of day, year, or location. It would be nice if every EMS call occurred indoors, under well lit and environmentally stable conditions. But that's usually not the case. In fact, some medical emergencies are the result of the patient being exposed to extreme weather, which affects not only the patient, but also the rescuers and their equipment. And in the case of vital tools like your portable suction unit, they, like you, had better be up to the task.

As an emergency responder, you have a lot of responsibility. You must be ready for anything: critical patients, natural disasters, and the ever-present threat of terrorist attacks. And a key to readiness is maintaining your equipment, for without your tools, you are little help to anyone.

The GI bleed had been going on for some time. By the time you reach the patient – a frail little lady pushing ninety – she was vomiting bright red blood down the front of her nightgown. She was a mess, and having a hard time breathing due to the thick, clotted vomitus streaming from her mouth and nose. You quickly assemble your equipment, which includes a first-rate portable suction unit, and get to work.

Working in healthcare, we have a lot of tools and technology at our disposal. And thank goodness we do! With every new medical advancement, we are able to improve our delivery of safe and efficient patient care.

As a first responder, you are used to making rapid decisions, acting quickly, and treating the acute symptoms of your patient’s illness or injury. Though your fast action is necessary, do you ever stop and think about your patient’s long term outlook? You should. Your actions in the present can affect your patient’s future prognosis.

It’s a bright fall morning and you’ve just arrived at your station. The off-going crews are still asleep, no doubt from a previous busy night of calls, so you drop your gear beside the truck and head for the kitchen to make coffee. As the crews filter in, you get caught up in a lively discussion about last night’s football game and before you know it, an hour has slipped by. Suddenly, the tones go off, summoning your station to a cardiac arrest. Chaos ensues as the ongoing crews rush to respond and the off-going crews rip their gear from trucks. The medic you relieve yells something about expired drugs, but there’s no time for details as you race from the station.

As an emergency medical services responder, you know how important it is to maintain good health. The stress of EMS, the long hours, and the erratic nature of the job can lead to hypertension and anxiety, lack of sleep, and missed meals (or worse yet, high consumption of fast foods). Just as you should be vigilant about your personal health, you should also maintain the health of your equipment. An unhealthy body is easily taxed; so too is your equipment if it’s not kept in good working order. And one of the most crucial pieces of equipment is your portable medical suction unit.