If there’s one thing we like to do here at Cleanwaste, it’s celebrate heroes. And we hold EMTs in high esteem.
Every day, hundreds of lives depend on the quick response and expert care provided by emergency medical technicians (EMTs). Along with the many technical skills necessary to become an EMT, quick thinking and preparedness are a must in their industry.
When responding to a call, they often won’t know the severity of the situation or even what kind of environment they’ll be working in until they arrive on the scene, which is why it’s crucial for EMTs to be prepared for any type of emergency at all times.
Below is a list of must-have supplies every EMT needs quick access to. If you’re an outdoorsman, this level of preparedness probably seems familiar, but it serves as a reminder of how heavy a burden these heroes carry to be ready to save lives. Not even James Bond packs this much gear on a mission.
A Critical Gear Inventory for EMTs
Here’s a handy list of the top items EMTs should always carry with them:
- Trauma Shears
- Flashlight
- Stethoscope
- Tourniquet
- Watch
- Pulse Oximeter
- Blood Pressure Cuff
- Oxygen Key/Wrench
- Multi-tool
- Notepad and pens
- EMS pocket guide
- Boots
- EMS Pants
- Gloves
- Power Bank for the Phone
- WAG Bag® and Portable Toilet System
Most of these items seem pretty self-explanatory for an emergency medical professional, but that last one may have you scratching your head.
“But wait!” You’re thinking. “This list was sounding pretty hardcore. Trauma sheers! Pulse oximeters! And then. . . a portable toilet? What have you done to our James Bond-esque, heroic mojo?”
The answer is simple: Even heroes have to go to the bathroom.
Unlike movies or TV, real emergencies don’t take commercial breaks or cut away from the scene. EMTs must be ready to dig in as long as it takes at an accident or disaster site.
But they’re only human, and if there’s one thing we can all count on, it’s that our digestive tracts love to have their emergencies at the worst possible times.
The WAG Bag® is an Essential Tool for Emergency Workers
A WAG Bag® (or Waste Alleviation and Gelling Bag) is a common name for waste bags. And yup, that means exactly what you think it does. It’s a bag for catching and disposing of human waste.
Since EMTs may not always know how accessible a bathroom may be, Cleanwaste products offer a safe and sanitary solution whenever and wherever duty calls them.
Ideal Types of WAG Bags and Accessories for EMTs
The Pee-Wee Unisex Urine WAG Bag® by Cleanwaste is a super compact, individually packaged bag for liquid waste.
Don’t let the “Pee-Wee” name fool you—this little bag is powerful. It contains a unique blend of enzymes and polymers that convert urine into a deodorized gel and each bag can hold up to 24 ounces!
(Twenty-four ounces—that’s the size of a venti Starbucks drink. We dare you to pee that much at one time. Go ahead. We’ll wait. Just don’t send photos. That would be weird.)
The GO Anywhere Portable Toilet is the answer for both liquid and solid waste.
We’re not joking. Anywhere your bladder can go, this thing can go. This compact toilet weighs just 7 pounds and folds up to standard briefcase size. It provides a standard toilet's comfort, height, and ease of use. It also supports up to 500 pounds and is stable on uneven ground.
And, this should bring no small sense of relief. There’s no mixing, messy chemical waste storage tanks, or dump stations required. You quickly install a new, disposable bag. Then you use it, seal it, and toss it in the trash.
All of our bags are approved for landfill use. They are leakproof and seal up tight, and because they’re non-toxic, they’re safe enough to store in an ambulance to be disposed of later.
Additional WAG Bag® Applications for EMTs
What, you thought we were done? A little creativity goes a long way, even with human waste, and we’re always amazed how real-life heroes choose to use a WAG bag to make an impact.
For example, while Cleanwaste waste bags are great bathroom solutions for EMTs to use while on a call, they’re also ideal for patients who can’t get to more traditional facilities.
Also, because they convert human waste into a gel, they’re a great solution for patients who need to vomit while in the ambulance en route to the hospital.
Rather than puking into a receptacle that will need to be contained and washed to prevent the spread of potential pathogens, a waste bag catches the vomit, immediately converting it into a gel and sealing in biological threats. (Now, don’t you just wish you’d had these things in college?)
WAG Bags for EMTs are No Joke. (Even though they’re easy to joke about.)
When you work in an industry that deals with human waste, it’s tough not to joke about it—the potty humor writes itself. But all jokes aside, we are on an honest, earnest quest to equip real heroes with what they need to save lives.
The WAG Bag® has truly been an overlooked need by many organizations, and it’s one that can free up the time EMTs need to do their work and, in many cases, help them do it better.
To learn more about how Cleanwaste waste bags help first responders, military, and government agencies perform their jobs better, check out our full product line here.