A central area of the clinic should be designated as the ‘‘ready area,” where resuscitation therapeutics and equipment are organized and available for immediate use. All members of the veterinary team must be familiar with the ready area and location of all necessary emergency equipment and medications. Regular drills should be organized for emergency situations such as CPA with subsequent cardiopulmonary-cerebral resuscitation efforts to ensure every-one knows his or her role and to improve techniques. An emergency treatment or “crash” cart should contain endotracheal tubes of various sizes, a laryngoscope, syringes of different sizes with 18- or 20-gauge needles attached, and drugs for cardiac resuscitation. Oxygen and a small and large ambu bag should be immediately available. Other necessary materials include hair clippers, surgical scrub, tape, intravenous and intraosseous catheters with flushing solutions, intravenous isotonic crystalloids, pressure infusion bags, synthetic colloids, bandage material, and trauma transport materials. Additional beneficial equipment includes a defibrillator, an ECG machine, a suction unit with Yankauer and whistle tip suction attachments, an indirect blood pressure measurement unit, and warming devices.

Last full review/revision March 2012 by Rebecca Kirby, DVM, DACVIM, DACVECC; Andrew Linklater, DVM, DACVECC