The LifePak 10C Monitor/defribrillator
This is our ALS monitor/defribillator, which uses 3-leads to determine and monitor a patient's EKG. This model is a Physio-Control Lifepak 10C The unit is compatible with SOMAC's Lifepak 500 as well.
The cab of SOMAC 512
This is a view of the main console in the cab of 512, as seen through the passageway between the cab and the module. The center console contains a radio for contacting dispatch, medical control, and other departments. However, SOMAC currently has a cellular phone on board which is used to contact medical control, also known as "resource." The console also contains all electrical controls, including controls for the siren, warning lights, module lights, and scene lights. On the console, the top row of RED switches controls the warning lights for the rig. The black switch to the left of the red switches is the main power switch for that row of switches. There are switches here for, from L-R, the flashers (intersection lights, KKK-1822 D lights), Front Light bar, Rear light bar, rear strobe lights, and flashing headlights. There are then three empty switch slots. The last red button on the top row, to the right, turns on the "low power" mode of the rear strobes. The orange button on the far right turns power on to the siren. The bottom row of switches controls main power and the module's power. The switch on the left, with the red light on it, controls power to the whole ambulance. Next to it there are three black switches. These control from left to right, hi powered halogen dome lights in the patient compartment, low power domes, and flourescent lights for the patient area. The next four orange switches control the "scene lights", from Left to Right, Scene Left, Scene rear, Scene Right, and "Fog lights" (Scene Front). The final switch on this row is the lone black switch on the right, which disables the "back-up alarm." Below this row, on the left you will see a green square button, which turns on the ambulance's battery system, and the two red lights under that show if the front doors are open or not. To the right of these red lights is the siren control panel. The siren has a Public Adress mode and seven or eight siren modes.
External view of the ALS cabinet
This is another view of the ALS Cabinet onboard 512. This is the view as seen from the external door that opens onto the "curb" side of the rig. The gear carried in this compartment composes virtually all of our "kits" or on-scene equipment, minus the airway bag and the Lifepak 10C. On the top shelf, the orange bag on the right is an inflatable splint kit. Also on the top shelf,to the left of the splint kit, is our blue "trauma" bag, which is hard to see in this picture. On the next shelf down, there are four or five Stifneck cervical collars. The orange bag behind the collars, barely sticking out, is our spare O2 cylider with regulator. To the left, the black and yellow item is the Physio-Control Lifepak 500 AED , or defibrillator. Finally, on the next shelf down, the royal blue bag with yellow trim is our ALS kit. Under the kit you will also note there are some more splints. On the bottom shelf, there is a peek into the past- those green bags are sand bags-which used to be used for spinal immobilization and flail chests and all sorts of good things. These,however, are no longer part of accepted protocol. Why we still carrying them I don't know. What can I say, it's central NY!!! :-)
