I’m looking for some ideas/insights from other aquatics staff on how you handle your emergency response supplies bag. With the need to have so much in the bag, it seems its always a mess. Between O2 tubing, new non-rebreather masks, and bvms in every size the bag doesn’t seem effective in a real emergency. Can anyone give me some help on thoughts for organization, for quick and easy assembly if needed in an actual emergency? Thanks so much!
In addition to the bag, we also use a large bin on wheels. The bin holds the bag and other related equipment/supplies that do not fit in the bag. It works out very well. I would recommend drilling some drain holes in the bottom of the bin or your equipment can get pretty soggy as the summer rolls along. The bin then sits on deck infront of the guard office with the back board right behind it. At night staff just wheel it into the office.
In the summer we put our AED and other supplies in a ‘RED’ gym bag that also goes out. It also carries a first aid kit. It can store overflow. So they are responsible for the backboard, red bag, yellow bag, and tube. Although, I am considering finding a larger ‘yellow’ bag this summer.
In Gurnee we invested in 10 medic bags last year. 3 for emergencies (one at each facility), and 7 for training. The emergency ones are orange and the training ones are blue but aside from that they are exactly identical. We also purchased (or at least standardized) all of our BVM’s in both kits as well. This allows our guards to train with the exact equipment they would use in an emergency. We labeled each pocket for each piece of rescue equipment. The AED, 3 BVM,s non-rebreather masks, extra resuscitation mask, and basic first-aid supplies all fit nicely in this bag. The bag is also padded so in an emergency a little bit of dropping, bumping, etc. is fine. Our oxygen cylinders are still separate and in a hard case but here is a link to Galls that identifies the bag I’m talking about. (one of the best equipment investments I’ve ever made!)
http://www.galls.com/style.html?assort=general_catalog&style=BG169&cat=2732