Availability of facilities and equipment to provide emergency care in ambulances, which transport patients to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Objective To describe available facilities and equipment in ambulances, to provide essential emergency care, which transport patients to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka Methods A descriptive cross-sectional hospital based study was carried out at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka from August to October 2008. All ambulances that arrived at the hospital during the study period with an emergency patient were selected as study sample (n=409). A Check list was used to assess in situ facilities and equipment that should be available for basic life support (BLS) and advanced life support (ALS). Results Most of the ambulances were equipped only with very basic facilities such as wheeled stretcher 95.4% (n=390), ABC fire extinguishers 75.3% (n=308) and warning siren 94.4% (n=386). Among ventilation and air way equipment, ‘oxygen cylinders’ showed highest percentage {68.7%; n=281) of availability in ambulances and oropharyngeal air ways were available only in 4.9% (n=20). Ventilation and air way equipment required for ALS were available only in less than 1% of all ambulances. Among patient assessment equipment, pen lights were available in 19.6% (n=80) and blood pressure apparatus in 2.2% (n=9) of ambulances. Obstetrical supplies, splinting equipment, surgical dressings except bandages, drug delivery devices, intravenous equipment except IV hook were available among < 5% of all ambulances. Most of the ambulances were equipped with safety and accessory equipment, except child safety seat 0.5% (n=2), triage tags 1.7% (n=7) and hack saw 0.7% (n=3), which were available in <2% of all ambulances. Conclusion The facilities and equipment that should be available in both basic and advanced life support ambulances were poor.