A unique backpack emergency medical kit, which holds all the key components needed to monitor and stabilise a patient’s condition in an emergency, has been developed by Wales-based OMI. The ‘OMI Remote Emergency Medical Grab Bag’ has been designed by the company’s MD Dr David Irons, and is based on his great experience of practising medicine and dealing with emergencies in remote locations all around the world – from Argentina to Borneo. He distilled this experience into the unique design of the Grab Bag whilst reviewing the medical services of one of the largest multinational mining companies in the world. The highly durable bag is an ideal piece of equipment for every mining site – giving on-site personnel the opportunity to provide life-saving treatment whether being guided by telemedical services on a satellite phone or being used by paramedics or doctors; it works on every level of expertise.
Over the last few years, his range of medical emergency packs have become the first choice in medical support on hundreds of ocean-going vessels. Now all that experience has been concentrated into a single, all-purpose piece of kit that can be used in a wide range of land-based locations – including deep and open-pit mines.
The OMI Remote Emergency Medical Grab Bag weighs in at 19kg (41.8lb) and can be carried as a backpack or in three separate sections – which also makes it easier to stow away when space is restricted. Waist and chest support straps distribute the weight evenly and the broad, padded straps make it surprisingly comfortable to carry.
It quickly zips open into three easy stages to give you almost every essential piece of medical kit you could need to monitor, resuscitate and stabilise a patient – including drugs, sutures, bandages, oxygen, even a defibrillator. The most important items are available immediately to hand, and everything is in logical order. Every aspect of the contents has been thoroughly thought through – from a head torch to work in the dark to easy-to-follow ‘panic instructions’ in simple words and diagrams.
Moreover, clients can subscribe to a 24-hour remote backup from anywhere in the world, giving access to experienced medical staff should they be needed to talk through handling a medical emergency.
The OMI Remote Emergency Medical Grab Bag has been extensively tested in the harshest wet weather and humidity conditions, it is fire retardant and anti-fungus/bacterial, and also very heavily padded to take knocks. Notify RMI each time a piece of equipment or consumable is used and a replacement can be shipped.
For major clients there are customised training sessions and videos. And while standard OMI Remote Emergency Medical Grab Bags have instructions in English, these can be supplied in any language.
The standard OMI Remote Emergency Medical Grab Bag is in a conspicuous, bright blue colour, but OMI will discuss specific requirements with clients – including branded and ‘high vis’ materials. It can also customise the contents.