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Emergency Medicine & First Aid vocabulary · The Emergency Department

Crash cart

Meaning in emergency medicine & first aid, with examples

/ˈkræʃ kɑːrt/nounCommon term

In emergency medicine & first aid, crash cart means: A trolley on wheels that holds the equipment and drugs needed for resuscitation, such as a defibrillator, airway kit and emergency medicines.

In Turkish: acil müdahale arabası, resüsitasyon arabası

How it is used

The US term; British staff say 'crash trolley' or 'resus trolley'. It is checked daily, restocked after use and often sealed so that nothing goes missing. 'Crash' also appears in 'crash call' and 'crash team', the hospital team called to a cardiac arrest.

Example sentences

  1. Bring the crash cart to bed six, he's arresting!

  2. I've checked and restocked the crash cart after the arrest.

Common collocations

  • crash cart check
  • restock the crash cart
  • crash trolley
  • crash team
  • defibrillatorA machine that gives a controlled electric shock to the heart to stop a dangerous, chaotic rhythm and let a normal rhythm return.
  • resusAn informal short form of resuscitation, used especially for the resuscitation room of an emergency department, where the sickest patients are treated.
  • cardiac arrestA sudden stop in the heart's effective pumping, so that blood no longer reaches the brain and the person collapses and stops breathing normally.
  • intubationPlacing a tube through the mouth or nose into the windpipe so that the airway is protected and a machine or bag can breathe for the patient.

More terms: The Emergency Department

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.