East Durham Community First Responders
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Equipment Maintenance Policy
This policy is to ensure that all equipment the East Durham Community First Responders (EDCFR) use is both fit for purpose and maintained to the highest level.
It is the First Responders (FR’s) responsibility that all the equipment in the kit is checked regularly. Every week an Equipment Check List must be filled in and the completed form returned to the Co-ordinator at each meeting or sooner if there is a problem or failure with any of the equipment. The Equipment Check List has four (4) weeks of checks on each form.
Bring all the completed sheets to the next meeting. If you are unavailable for that meeting you MUST ensure that the form is given to the Co-ordinator within 7 days of the meeting date.
If your equipment is requested to be checked or serviced by the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) or the EDCFR then you must ensure that it is available at the time stated in the request. This may either by a written or verbal request. If you have been requested by the NEAS you should inform the scheme Co-ordinator. If you do not comply with the request then the equipment MUST be withdrawn from duty.
Only equipment that the EDCFR and / or the (NEAS) have approved may be carried in the kit or used whilst on duty as a FR. If any equipment is used or carried that has not been agreed then the FR will be removed from duty and an enquiry will be set up following the Disciplinary Policy. This is to protect both the patient and the FR from possible problems with equipment suitability.
The method of checking and testing the equipment is laid out in the following documentation.
Defibrillator (FR2 )Checklist
1- Is the defib clean with no signs of dirt, contamination, no signs of damage?
2- Does the defib show the alternating hourglass / square in the check window?
3- If so then you can tick the defibrillator box on the Check list.
Defibrillator Pads
1- Are there two (2) sets of pads in the kit?
2- Do the pads have a shelf life of one (1) month or more?
3- Are the pads in a sealed and clean packet?
4- If so then you can tick the Defib pads box.
O2 cylinder
1- Is the cylinder free from contamination and shows no sign of damage?
2- Does the cylinder have a shelf life of thirteen (13) months or more?
3- Does the cylinder show more than a quarter (¼) full?
4- If so you can tick the O2 Cylinder box.
O2 Regulator
1- Is the regulator free from contamination and shows no sign of damage?
2- Does the regulator have a service date more than one (1) month?
3- If so you can tick the O2 Regulator box.
O2 Masks
1- Are there two (2) adult 100% O2 masks available?
2- Is there one (1) child 100% mask available?
3- Is there one (1) adult 60% mask available?
4- Is there one (1) child 60% mask available?
5- Are all the masks sealed, free from contamination and show no signs of damage?
6- Do all the masks have a shelf life of more than thirteen (13) months?
7- If so you can tick the O2 masks box.
Pulse Oximeter
1- Is the unit free from contamination and shows no sign of damage?
2- Does the unit function correctly?
3- Has the battery been replaced in the last year, (see your equipment sheet for battery replacement date)?
4- If so you can tick the Pulse Ox box.
Suction Unit
1- Is the unit free from contamination and shows no sign of damage?
2- Does the unit function correctly?
a. Place a finger over the vacuum port and squeeze the handle.
b. You should feel the vacuum on your finger and the handle will become harder to pull in if the unit is working.
c. If so you can continue with the checks. If not DO NOT USE THE Equipment.
3- Do you have a spare canister and lid?
4- If so you can tick the Suction Unit box.
BVM’s
1- Do you have an adult BVM?
2- Do you have a child’s BVM?
3- Are both units sealed, free from contamination and showing no signs of damage?
4- Do both units have a shelf life of more than thirteen (13) months?
5- If so you can tick the BVM’s box.
Dressings
1- Do you have two (2) Extra Large Dressings?
2- Do you have two (2) Large Dressings?
3- Do you have two (2) Medium Dressings?
4- Do you have two (2) Triangular Bandages?
5- Do you have a minimum of three (3) packs of swabs?
6- Do you have 2 tapes and more then 5 safety pins?
7- Are all the dressing in a sealed packet?
8- Are they all free from contamination and damage?
9- Do they all have a shelf life of more than thirteen (13) months?
10- If so you can tick the Dressings box.
Pen Torch
1- Is the pen torch free from contamination and shows no sign of damage?
2- Is the pen torch functioning correctly?
3- If so you can tick the Pen Torch box.
PRF’s
1- You must ensure that you have a minimum of five (5) prf’s available to you before you start any duty.
2- You should contact the Co-ordinator if you require any extra.
If you answer any question with a NO then you must either notify or arrange to rectify the problem with the group’s Co-ordinator before you continue with any further duties.
If he / she are unavailable then you should notify the NEAS’s FR Co-ordinator or remove yourself from any operational duty until the problem has been rectified. Once the problem has been resolved to either of the Co-ordinators satisfaction then you may return to duty.
If any equipment fails whilst on duty then this MUST be reported to the schemes Co-ordinator within 24 hrs, they will then inform the NEAS to see if any further action will be set in place. The equipment must NOT be used until a systematic check has been made, and all parties are confident that the equipment is working and is fit for purpose.