SOMAC maintains two ALS ambulances. SOMAC's rigs include a lot of equipment including-two defribillators- one manual for the ALS providers and one semi-automatic for the EMT's-, a drug/ALS kit, a trauma kit, Airway bag which rides on the stretcher and goes in on all calls, anti-shock trousers, portable suction units, spare O2 bottles, KED's, Backboards, splints, and rehab items for fire scene stand-by's(gatorade, water, etc.). The rigs also have cabinets full of medications, oxygen supplies, bandages,etc. If our kits were to be emptied on a call, the patient could still continue to be treated off the plentitude of equipment carried in the cabinets on board the rig.
The ALS/Drug Kit from Unit 512
This kit, made by Pacific Emergency Products ( the A300D Model) holds all the equipment necessary to intubate patients, start IV's, administer medications, including nitroglycerin, epinephrine, Narcan, Dextrose, atropine, lidocaine, dopamine, albuterol, saline,furosemide (Lasix), Glucagon, etc. There is a separate pull out intubation kit allowing all necessary "tube" equipment to be brought to the patient's head. There is also a separate pull out IV start kit, which can be used to treat a second patient if necessary. The kit also has a sharps container in it for all the needles we use. This kit rides in the Right side, front door of the module, also known as the ALS cabinet. Our second rig, 513, has an identical bag as well. To learn more about about the EMS DRUGS we carry on our rigs and their uses, go to the New York City REMSCO EMS Drug Index
512's airway bag
This is the main kit on the rigs. This bag goes in on every single call we run. It rides on the stretcher, and it contains a "D" size O2 cylinder with regulator. The bag also has in it a V-Vac suction unit, an Adult BP cuff and scope, an adult AMBU SPUR Bag Valve Mask resuscitator (BVM), a pediatric AMBU SPUR bag, oral and nasal airways, a nebulizer, and Non Rebreather oxygen masks. Our other rig, 513, has an identical bag as well.
The ALS Cabinet
This is the curb side "ALS" cabinet of our main rig, 512. on the picture to see the gear laid out in detail. On the top shelf of this cabinet is the blue "trauma" bag with the Star of Life on it. This bag contains bandages and pressure dressings for trauma situations. Next to it, the dark bag holds our LSP MAST (anti-shock trousers). Going one shelf down, you will find our Lifepak 500 AED which is the defribillator that our EMT-D's are allowed to use. Behind it, the orange cylinder is our spare O2 and regulator set up. Each SOMAC ambulance carries seven tanks of oxygen. Six are portable "D" tanks and one is the onboard "M" system. Also on this shelf are cervical collars. Finally, on the bottom shelf is our ALS Drug/Intubation kit on the right. The dark blue bag next to it is our Ohmeda portable suction unit. The ALS cabinet itself is acessible from both inside the rig and outside the rig. (This view is from the inside of the ambulance) The next page will show you the external view.
