Author: Jake Beals

Stair Chairs are an instrumental piece of modern-day EMS equipment. They help Medics move alert patients up or down stairs while secured to the chair.

The two prominent companies that manufacture stair chairs for the US EMS market are FERNO & STRYKER

There are three main types of stair chairs:

• Manual chair without tracks
• Manual chair with tracks
• Power stair chair

First, FERNO’s stair chair options:
The FERNO Transcend + PowerTraxx (The only battery-powered chair on the market.)

• Two battery options: the ENDURACharge 36V runs up to 40 flights of stairs per charge, or the
• Milwaukee 28V lithium-ion battery runs up to 30 flights of stairs per charge. Both are rechargeable.
• The POWERTraxx Conversion Kit can retrofit powered tracks to the manual Transcend Stair Chair.
• Stair Bright offers integrated LED scene lights to illuminate surroundings up to 1 flight of stairs with two brightness options.
• Easy to operate with a wireless controller
• 550 lb weight capacity aids in bariatric transport
• Standard features include IV Clip, Extending lift handles, Nylon Restraints, Molded seat and back, 8 in Rear wheels, and 5 in Front swivel wheels.
• Optional features include Wheel locks, footrest, Extending lift bar, Rear Lift handles, and Glide Bar.

FERNO Transcend Stair Chair (W/O Power Traxx)

• 550 lb weight capacity
• Standard features include Headrest, Rear lift handles, and restraint set.
• Optional features include Wheel locks, Extending lift bar, Footrest, Armrests, Tri-Spoke wheels, Rear lift handles, and a Glide bar.
• Transcend Carry Chair with NO TRACKS is also available.

Now for Stryker’s Stair Chairs and some of their features:
6252 Manual Chair:

• Patented Stair-TREAD tacks allow easy evacuation downstairs by a single operator
• Shown to help reduce the risk of operator injury
• Adjustable handles, track angle, and built-in descent control enhance safety
• 500 lb weight capacity

 

Stryker Model 6254 Evacuation Chair (For Public Access):

The 6254 is a hand-carried, lightweight device, designed for evacuation of disabled or injured persons weighing up to 500 lb from multilevel facilities.
It is intended to aid in the transportation of passengers up and/or down a flight of stairs in an evacuation setting, whether it be for medical conditions, service interruptions, emergencies, and/or accidents. The patented Stair-TREAD tracks allow a single operator to evacuate passengers weighing up to 200 pounds. Two operators can manage passengers up to 500 pounds

• An extendable handle allows the operator to have a forward-facing, upright posture
• Foot end lift handles extend, allowing two caregivers to lift an evacuee over obstacles or upstairs.
• 500 lb weight capacity

Master Medical Equipment is here to answer any questions about these life-saving devices. Our friendly and knowledgeable customer service department is here to help you find a solution! Call us at 866-468-9558 or request a quote here!

 

Dr. Clay Hallmark is the Senior Pastor at First Baptist Lexington, TN, and last year was the first unanimously re-elected President of the Tennessee Baptist Convention since the 1940s. Dr. Hallmark moved his family to Lexington in 2016 and has faithfully served his church and local community for the last seven years. The community became their true home, and Dr. Hallmark firmly believes he will retire in Lexington, TN.

But something changed his life forever on March 6th, 2021, when tragedy struck.

“That day, my youngest daughter was in town for her bridal shower, and we had a women’s ministry event at First Baptist. After serving lunch with the Men’s Sunday school group, I went home for about ten minutes, then decided to head back to help them clean up, put presents in my truck, and get set up for Sunday.

After moving chairs and loading presents, my daughter asked me to put my first granddaughter (about eight months old) in her SUV. I remember carrying her to the car, setting her into her car seat, and playing peekaboo. I tell her, ‘grandpa loves you.’ I shut the door, looked at my daughter, and said, ‘I feel dizzy.’

And at that point, my heart stopped.

I fell into the church parking lot with no heartbeat and a major cardiac arrest. It had no warning symptoms, no warning signs. ”

At first his daughter thought it was low blood sugar, but when Dr. Hallmark fell out, she called for help. Three women immediately rushed over; Clay’s sister-in-law, his younger daughter, and his adopted daughter, respectively, are a nurse at Jackson General Hospital, an ER trauma nurse in Birmingham, and a Cardiac nurse at Jackson General.

“They knew my heart had stopped, and immediately they began CPR, rotating between the three of them,” Dr. Hallmark said.

From the time Clay fell into cardiac arrest, his daughters delivered over 10 minutes of CPR. Since their new church buildings’ AEDs had not arrived yet, a deacon ran across the street to the fire department, who brought over their AED. And there, they delivered a life-saving shock. They found out after the fact from the AED data that Clay was within 3 seconds of receiving a second shock when his heart began beating again.

“They were tending to me in the parking lot. I don’t remember that at all. I know one of my deacons arrived and got in the ambulance with me. The only thing I remember was he had his hand on my head.

I was taken to the emergency room at Jackson General Hospital, where Doctor Kelly Green was the cardiologist on call, which was a godsend. They immediately went to work on me, ensuring I was stable and knew what had happened. I was in ICU for several days. What I wound up having was an arrhythmia problem. I got out of it with cardiac rehab, but I had to wear a life vest for six months.

But both cardiologists told me separately that I had about a 5% chance of being alive. Had it not been for my daughters’ immediate action of CPR and a life-saving AED shock, I would not have lived. If I had been anywhere else, I wouldn’t be here having this conversation with you. I’m thankful to the Lord, and his plan for my life. I’m thankful to the skilled doctors and my daughters. I’ve shared this with many people and told them you’ve got to be physically and spiritually ready for emergencies like these. When they arrived, AEDs were placed everywhere throughout the church, and our congregation immediately trained on CPR and AEDs. It’s essential that when we go anywhere, games, youth camps, or senior events, an AED goes with us.

I’m thankful that February brings awareness to issues such as sudden cardiac arrest and CPR. These are things I was aware of in the past but am now obviously very sensitive to in the present. And, of course, I’m an enormous promoter of knowing CPR and how to use AEDs. It’s something we need not just in Jackson; we need it everywhere. If ever there was something that the state or county and city governments ought to get behind, it should be life-saving access to AEDs.”

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death among adults over 40 in the United States and other countries. In the United States alone, approximately 250,000 people die every year from SCA, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Thanks to the preparedness of those around him, professional responders, and the availability of an AED, Dr. Hallmark made a full recovery. We know the more people get trained in CPR and have access to an AED in their office, school, and public/private facilities, the more lives we can save.

To learn more about how you can stay equipped in case of an SCA or other traumatic emergency, view our AED Solutions or emergency preparedness kits. To inquire about CPR training solutions for yourself or your staff, reach out to our clinical sales specialist Trent Harris at tharris@mmemed.com.

 

It’s no surprise to anyone in the medical industry that heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States. Cardiac emergencies can occur at any time, with little-to-no warning, and can have dire consequences in a matter of minutes. Sometimes the issues are genetic; other times, there is no track record of any heart trouble. So what could be done to lower the chances?

While nothing is concrete to prevent heart disease or cardiac emergencies, there are ways to decrease the chances that an event could occur. February is Heart Month, a time to raise awareness of cardiac emergencies and promote healthy hearts, so we’ve compiled some medical tips for healthy hearts in 2023.

1- Check-Ups
Cardiac diseases and issues often have warning signs. Get checked at least once every year. A variety of tests are recommended to make the most of your check-up and to see if you are more likely to have heart disease. Be sure to check for Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, and Diabetes.

2- Substances
Irresponsible smoking and drinking have a measurable, adverse effect on the function of your internal organs, including your heart. According to the CDC, men shouldn’t regularly have more than two drinks per day, and women shouldn’t regularly have more than one drink per day. The mayo clinic advises a maximum of fourteen units (12 oz of beer or 5 oz of wine) per week. As for smoking or vaping, it’s best to take active steps to quit. The damage it does to your lungs and, consequentially, the air that goes into your bloodstream can’t be ignored. For professional help with quitting, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

3- Sleep
Sleep is natural; your body needs it to recover, heal, and grow. The more rest you have, the better your body can perform. On the other hand, lack of sleep has been linked to higher blood pressure, heart disease, and stress.

An adult’s average sleep is at least seven hours each night. So take time to make rest a priority. There is a multitude of apps and alarm settings that remind you in a variety of ways to make the most of your sleep!

4- Balance your Food
Nutrition is a huge part of taking care of your body. Even the most dedicated gym-goers must focus on their diet to achieve the desired results. Each diet is careful to carry a well-balanced variety of fruits and vegetables and grains. Diets that are high in saturated fats and cholesterol have been strongly linked with heart diseases and cardiac conditions.

According to Health.gov, here are some good rules of thumb:
Eat less saturated fat. Cut back on fatty meats and high-fat dairy products. Limit foods like pizza, burgers, and creamy sauces or gravy.
Cut down on sodium (salt). Read the Nutrition Facts label and choose foods that are lower in sodium. Look for foods labeled “low sodium” or “no salt added” — like some canned soups, canned vegetables, packaged meals, and snack foods.
Get more fiber. Eat vegetables, fruits, beans, and whole grains to add fiber to your diet.

5- Ex-er-CISE
A good rule of thumb is to exercise for half an hour to an hour daily.
The year has just begun, and now is the time to start good and reliable exercise routines. Even just a little bit of exercise will start to help your body. You lower your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol with lower body weight. With your heart on a steady schedule of exercising, your heart can overcome adverse conditions that occur as you get older. It’s better for your heart and lowers your risk of heart disease!

Even with all these tips, we can’t prevent 100% of emergencies such as Sudden Cardiac Arrest. In the event of an emergency, make sure you are prepared with an AED and CPR training. View AED solutions here, and for CPR training inquiries, get in touch with Trent Harris, our clinical sales specialist, at tharris@mmemed.com.

At Master Medical Equipment, we are proud to put life-saving equipment into the hands of those who need them. While we cannot control the rate of heart disease and how often it affects people, we always strive to keep you prepared. As we recognize Wear Red Day and this month of Cardiac Disease Awareness, take the time to assess what you can do for others and yourself to lower your cardiac risk!

 

At MME, we aim to provide you the tools and resources to make the best equipment decisions for your practice. We’ve compiled our favorite suction unit options and want to highlight the features that make them unique.

So what is the purpose of Suction Units? In general, suction units in EMS mitigate retained or excessive upper and lower respiratory tract secretions in patients who are unable to do so effectively for themselves.

In this article, we are going to discuss two of the top brands in the suction sphere:

• SSCOR– was founded in 1980, and suction is their only business.
• Laerdal Medical– Began creating suction units in 1969 and has since expanded its offers to training and educational and medical devices.

First, let’s cover some of the SSCOR units and the warranties those units have:

S-SCORT III EMS Portable Suction Unit:

• • The S-Scort III is one of the leaders in EMS! It provides all the power and versatility to quickly and effectively clear an airway, weighs only 7 pounds, and is economical to purchase and maintain.
  • It has a 2-position regulator to choose full or reduced power for endotracheal and pediatric suction procedures.
  • Sealed Battery and includes: Dual mode charger, DC power cord, canister, 2m tube, suction tip.
  • One Year Warranty

SSCOR VX-2:

• • • The SSCOR VX-2 is a portable, powerful battery-powered suction unit that can be mounted in the action area of an ambulance and used as onboard suction. An optional charging/retention bracket connects the team to vehicle power at all times.
    • With a variable regulator gauge, outward-facing controls, and drawing power from the vehicle, the VX-2 is set up for onboard suction but can easily be removed from the retention bracket and used as portable suction.
    • One Year Warranty

SSCOR DCELL:

• • • Perfect for disaster preparedness. It can be stored for long periods without the need for charging.
    • 6-9 hour run time
    • It can also be powered indefinitely by DC or AC optional charging cords
    • Variable regulator and gauge
    • Battery condition indicator
    • 3-year warranty

SSCOR Quickdraw:

• • • The Quickdraw easily fits into an airway or first-in bag so that you can have quality medical suction available at the patient’s side. It provides suction as efficiently as a large aspirator but weighs only 2.6 pounds.
    • Perfect for disaster preparedness. It can be stored for long periods without the need for charging.
    • Battery pack run time is 3 hours.
    • You can also use 10 AAA alkaline batteries with an optional battery holder.
    • 3-hour run time
    • One year warranty

Lastly, let’s cover some of Laerdal’s units and their warranties:

Laerdal LCSU 4

• • • Compact, powerful, and reliable, the unit combines a rugged design with lightweight portability, making it an essential tool for every first responder.
    • 300 or 800 ml disposable canister
    • External power indicator
    • Variable regulator
    • Field replaceable high-capacity NiMH battery pack
    • Approximately 45-minute run time
    • 2-year warranty (excluding canister, tubing, and Battery. Battery = 90 days)

Laerdal LSU

• • • Ergonomic and quick to break down and assemble.
    • Control panel with color-coding for children’s vacuum range area.
    • According to Laerdal: LSU can reach a vacuum of 500+ mmHg and has a flow rate of >25 LPM, exceeding international standards.
    • Cannister Options: Available as a reusable or semi-disposable option, providing easy conversions between the canister systems.
    • Approximately 45-minute run time. Charges to 80% after 3 hours
    • Five-year warranty
    • Average lifespan of 10 years

Master Medical Equipment is here to answer any questions about these life-saving devices. Our friendly and knowledgeable customer service department is here to help you find a solution! Call us at 866-468-9558 or check out our live chat feature on our website today!

 

Master Medical Equipment is determined to bring the highest quality products and services to customers around the world. A great way to showcase our dedication to these principles is by auditing our Quality Management System and our processes via a third-party company. This is why we proudly announce that MME is now ISO 13485 Certified!

ISO 13485 specifies requirements for a Quality Management System for companies to safely and efficiently handle, sell, and service medical devices. By adhering to this certification, we commit to a quality management standard of continued improvement that consistently surpasses customer and regulatory requirements.

Third-party certification demonstrates that we exceed the standard requirements. MME underwent rigorous audits with a third party to ensure processes and environments surpassed the industry standards.

What does this certification mean outside of the company? Achieving this ISO 13485:2016 certification for MME shows our commitment to being leaders in the medical device industry by holding ourselves to standards that are above and beyond our regulatory requirements. It shows our customers that we are committed to ensuring consistent quality and continually improving our processes. When working with medical devices, it’s important to remember that these are life-saving pieces of equipment, and a failure on our part to provide quality products could result in the loss of a patient’s life.

As the healthcare industry is in the national spotlight, the process of medical equipment sales and handling faces increased scrutiny. Our Quality Management System indicates our commitment to a process of continued improvement and strict adherence to protocols and processes. View our ISO 13485 Certificate here.

 

AEDs are designed to stand by and be ready to save a life in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest. They remain in a wall cabinet and are often out of sight and out of mind. However, the shock-delivering defibrillation pads with the AED have a shelf life and run the risk of not properly adhering to the patient after their expiration date. Pads are a single-use item, and a life could depend on them working correctly. During an emergency, rescuers can be at the mercy of the equipment and have no backup if the pads are past their expiration date.

Despite the importance of stocking up-to-date and non-expired pads, keeping track of the expiration date can be difficult. The AED doesn’t alert you when its pads expire, and tracking one (or many) expiration dates becomes a manual, repetitive chore.

So we decided to offer a free service to help you keep track of when it’s time to change AED pads—introducing the Pad Expiration Reminder from MME.

This tracker is simple and easy to use. Once you’ve logged in or created your MME account, you can view the pad tracker interface by clicking “Pad Tracker” in your account dashboard. Once you’re in the tracker, you can add a new instance of a pad by choosing your pad type, entering the pad’s expiration date, and selecting how long before the expiration date you want an email reminder. You can also add follow-up reminders as well as additional email recipients. To add more pads, find your pad in the dropdown, enter its new information, and click submit.

Note: Depending on your specific pad’s lead time or manufacturer delays, you may want to allow a generous reminder interval to ensure time for your new pads to arrive.

When you’ve entered a new pad, it displays as a color-coded progress bar, displaying the expiration date and the number of days before it expires. The “Order New Pads” button allows you to immediately add an identical pad to your cart and checkout entirely online. When you receive a pad reminder email, it will give all the relevant information and a quick link to reorder those same pads.

We want to offer our reminder system to you free of charge to remove the worry and hassle of expired and out-of-date pads. Your AED will not be able to save a life with outdated pads; let us help keep you equipped to save a life.

Don’t see your pad listed as an option in our pad tracker? Contact one of our customer support agents in the chat box on the bottom right of the screen, or call us at 866.468.9558. In addition, we offer annual preventative maintenance for AEDs to ensure your equipment is always ready to save a life.

Jake Beals
Master Medical Equipment, Content Strategist