2.2 Equipment management
To ensure that rescue equipment was efficiently accessible to the entire
ward, each ICU ward was equipped with two emergency vehicles, with one
placed in the front ward and the other in the back ward. Two
defibrillators were stored in the nurse working station. Each bed was
equipped with an independent ECG monitor, a cart and a set of
disinfection supplies. To minimize cross-infection, we stopped the
original central suction equipment, and each bed was equipped with an
electric negative pressure suction device. Each ward was equipped with
20 high-flow airway humidification devices, 30 noninvasive ventilators
and 30 invasive ventilators with air compressors. In addition, it was
also equipped with two fiberoptic bronchoscopes, two
electrocardiographs, two vibration expectorators, two blood gas
analyzers and one portable bedside ultrasounds. Nonconventional ICU
equipment such as blood purification machines, ECMO machines and
packages were placed in storage areas in the semi-contaminated areas. In
emergency situations, this equipment was easily accessible and not
contaminated. We placed more than 40 medium rectangular storage boxes at
the nurses’ workstation to store common disposable consumables by their
functionality, such as ”airway consumables”, and ”venous therapy use”.
Eye-catching labels were used for the convenience of medical personnel
wearing goggles and face shields.