REMOTE HEALTH ATLAS Section 13: EMERGENCIES, EVACUATIONS & RETRIEVALS

RESUSCITATION TROLLEY

REMOTE HEALTH ATLAS

RESUSCITATION TROLLEY
1.

General Information

The Resuscitation Trolley is for the purpose of cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and

management of other emergencies in the health centre. The Resuscitation Trolley should be
easily accessible in the Emergency Room, and able to be moved to any area within the
health centre if required.
The Emergency Outreach Drug Box stored in the Resuscitation Trolley is designed to
provide a reasonable cover of emergency drugs to meet most emergencies encountered by
remote health centre staff both within and away from the health centre. To avoid
unnecessary duplication of stock, one drug kit is to be held in the Resuscitation Trolley in
each health centre. The Emergency Equipment - Checklist is to be be used as a reminder to
staff to collect the Emergency Outreach Drug Box from the Resuscitation Trolley. Larger
health centres may hold a second Emergency Outreach Drug Box dedicated to emergency
use away from the health centre and located in the Drug Storage Room.
There is a wide range of trolley types used throughout Remote Health. While the contents of
the trolley are to be stocked consistently across all health centres, the configuration may
have to change according to trolley type. Configurations for trolleys are provided below. The
use of a trolley that cannot adequately house the standard contents list should not be used
and an adequate trolley may be requisitioned. Details are provided in Section 4.3 Obtaining
Equipment and Supplies.
Provision of emergency care must be in accordance with an approved Scheduled Substance
Treatment Protocol (SSTP), Remote Health procedures and within the Health Practitioners
scope of practice. It is also important to note that the supply and administration of medicines
held in the Resuscitation Trolley is to be conducted only in accordance with the Northern
Territory Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act (MPTGA) and Regulations. For
details see Section 250 NT Medicines, Poisons & Therapeutic Goods Act.
This document should be read in conjunction with Emergency Equipment & Drugs
Overview and Emergency Outreach Drug Box.

2.

Definitions

Scheduled Substance Treatment Protocol (SSTP): is a protocol for possessing, supplying

or administering a scheduled substance as approved by the Chief Health Officer under
Section 254 of the Northern Territory Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act.

3.

Responsibilities

3.1

Health Centre Clinical Staff

Be familiar with the location, contents and use of the Resuscitation Trolley
Participate in the routine checking of the Resuscitation Trolley to ensure weekly checks
are attended
Sign off a completed check on the Essential Checks Form
Restock and check the Resuscitation Trolley after use, as soon as practicable
Be aware of and utilise the Emergency Equipment Checklist when managing an
emergency away from the health centre

Developed by: Quality & Safety Team

Endorsed by: Remote Executive leadership Group
Release Date: April 2005

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Reviewed: Dec 05, April 07, Aug 13, Jun 14,

Next Review: June 2017

REMOTE HEALTH ATLAS Section 13: EMERGENCIES, EVACUATIONS & RETRIEVALS

3.2

RESUSCITATION TROLLEY

Primary Health Care Manager (PHCM)

Ensure the presence of the Resuscitation Trolley in the Emergency Room
Ensure weekly checks are attended by assigning staff to the task
Ensure staff are aware of the location and purpose of the Resuscitation Trolley during
induction to the health centre

4.

Procedure

4.1

Resuscitation Trolley Contents

See Resuscitation Trolley - Contents for the required items to be included in the
Resuscitation Trolley. Equipment, medicines and other consumables content relates to:
- Airway
- Breathing
- Circulation

- Observation Equipment
- Other Clinical Equipment

Note: This Master Contents List details the placement of items for the range of Trolleys utilised in DoH
Remote Health Centres. Health centres receive a laminated Resuscitation Trolley Contents List
specific for the size of the trolley in that health centre. Please contact the Quality & Safety Team for
the appropriate contents list for your health centre as required.

The following Kits are components of the Resuscitation Trolley. The Contents List for each
Kit should be utilised for Quality Assurance checks as detailed below, including the:
- Operators Checklist for Zoll M / E Series Semi-Automatic Defibrillator / Monitor
- Intubation Kit Contents
- Needle Cricothyroidotomy & Needle Decompression Kit Contents (Adapted from:
CRANA Plus Clinical Procedures Manual, 2nd Ed, p 31 36)
- Emergency Outreach Drug Box Contents
Changes, by addition or deletion to the Resuscitation Trolley contents, are not
authorised. Where concerns are noted, alternative recommendations should be referred to
the Best Practice Group for consideration using the Best Practice Referral.
4.2

Quality Assurance

Checking the equipment against the contents list contributes to the routine weekly check,
and following use, of equipment, medicines and supplies in the Resuscitation Trolley. The
Trolley must be checked for the following:
- Presence and location
- Cleanliness
- Contents are correct per relevant contents list
- Stock is within expiry dates (medicines - first week of the month only)
- Patency of any sterile wrapping
- Equipment is functional and ready for use
- Maintenance requirements have been completed and are up to date, this includes
that Trolley wheels are functioning correctly
The date of the weekly check is recorded on the Essential Checks Form.
4.3

Obtaining Equipment and Supplies

The range of contents required for Resuscitation Trolleys are sourced through a variety of
means and when ordering equipment or supplies, staff should utilise routine Pharmacy
Ordering processes to obtain required medicines, Regional Stores (see relevant catalogue)
or Remote Health Stock for equipment and related supplies. If the required items are not
available via these mechanisms, the Internal Requisitions process should be utilised to
purchase the items. Where staff are uncertain of how to obtain a required item, they should
contact the PPN for advice.
Developed by: Quality & Safety Team
Endorsed by: Remote Executive leadership Group
Release Date: April 2005

Page 2

Reviewed: Dec 05, April 07, Aug 13, Jun 14,

Next Review: June 2017

REMOTE HEALTH ATLAS Section 13: EMERGENCIES, EVACUATIONS & RETRIEVALS

RESUSCITATION TROLLEY

As new / replacement Resuscitation Trolleys are required a five drawer lockable trolley is
recommended for Remote Health. This should be requested via an Internal Requisition. The
recommended model is currently being reviewed. Please contact the Professional Practice
Nurse (PPN) for advice.
4.4
Documentation
Management of an emergency consultation must be documented in full in the clients
Electronic Health Record (EHR) at the time or as soon as possible after the emergency
consultation.

5.

Forms

Best Practice Referral - electronic template

Essential Checks Form
Remote Health Stock - Order Form CA
Remote Health Stock - Order Form TE
Remote Health Hospital Pharmacy Order - Form
S100 Drug Order forms, available from the relevant S100 contracted pharmacy

6.

References and Supporting Documents

Related Atlas items:

Electronic Health Records - Overview
Emergency Equipment & Drugs - Overview
Emergency Outreach Drug Box
Essential Checks
Health Professional Registration
Health Records - Documentation
Internal Requisitions

Intubation Kits
Issuing & Administering Medicines
Ordering from Stores
Remote Health Stock
Section 250 NT MPTGA
Standard Clinical Equipment

Resuscitation Trolley Contents List

Emergency Outreach Drug Box - Contents
Intubation Kit Contents
Needle Cricothyroidotomy & Needle Decompression Kit Contents
Operators Checklist for Zoll M / E Series Semi-Automatic Defibrillator / Monitor
Emergency Equipment Checklist
Standard Clinical Equipment List
Best Practice Communiques:
13 - 05 Remote Health Emergency Review - Kits Communique
12 - 06 LMA Supreme Communique
12 - 01 Resuscitation Reference Table Communique
11 - 02 Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) Flowcharts Communique
10 - 03 Intraosseous Infusion Devices Communique
05 - 06 Standardised Emergency Equipment & Drug Lists
Australian Resuscitation Council Guidelines:
Basic Life Support Flowchart
Advanced Life Support flowchart Adult and Paediatric
Northern Territory Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act
Northern Territory Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Regulations
Central Australian Rural Practitioners Association (CARPA) Standard Treatment Manual
Minymaku Kutju Tjukurpa - Womens Business Manual. Congress Alukura and Nganampa
Health Council Inc.
CRANA Clinical Procedures Manual for Remote and Rural Practice
Developed by: Quality & Safety Team
Endorsed by: Remote Executive leadership Group
Release Date: April 2005

Page 3

Reviewed: Dec 05, April 07, Aug 13, Jun 14,

Next Review: June 2017