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WISHLIST
What happens when that call comes through?
A worker is experiencing cardiac arrest at a construction site. An athlete is injured at a sporting event. There’s been a report of a mass casualty event.
Crisis moments rarely announce their arrival – so your EMS jump bag needs to be set up to deliver.
The best EMS jump bag is designed to hold everything you need for a wide range of situations, while keeping it all close at hand. After all, when every second counts, the difference between a well-equipped first responder bag and a hastily assembled kit could save a life.
We’ve spent decades outfitting emergency responders with the equipment they need to perform at their best. We know that your EMS jump bag isn’t just a “bag of supplies” – it’s an extension of your training and your role. It needs to work with you, not against you.
So what should go in a fully-stocked EMS bag? Through our conversations with EMTs, paramedics, firefighters, and other emergency responders, here’s what we’ve learned should always be in your jump bag!
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Those first moments in any emergency response situation dictate the trajectory of the outcome. Your EMW jump bag must have the right equipment that can address immediate threats to life.
These are the tools that buy you precious time as you work to assess a patient’s situation and apply an intervention.
Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are one of the most critical, time-sensitive pieces of equipment in any emergency medical supplies kit.
For those experiencing cardiac arrest, every minute without defibrillation can reduce survival chances by up to 10%.
While AEDs can travel separately from jump bags (often due to size and weight), integrated AED systems can fit in jump bag designs to ensure you’re never far from this life-saving piece of equipment.
Epinephrine is essential for those who are experiencing severe allergic reactions.
Anaphylaxis doesn't wait for paramedics to arrive with advanced medications, so your jump bag needs to carry epinephrine auto-injectors. Many responders carry multiple doses, as some patients require repeated administration before symptoms resolve.
Similar to epinephrine, Naloxone has become another key component of first responder gear – particularly due to the ongoing opioid crisis affecting communities nationwide.
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, which means a single dose can quickly reverse respiratory depression in overdose patients.
While a patient in crisis may not be struggling from an overdose or cardiac event, those with diabetic conditions are at just as high a risk.
Glucometers allow you to quickly assess the blood glucose levels in patients. Hypoglycemia can mimic stroke, intoxication, or psychiatric emergency – but it’s also one of the few immediately treatable issues you’ll come across in the field.
Your jump bag should have both a glucometer and glucose replacement options appropriate to your certification level.
Tourniquets – often thought of in military or conflict scenarios – are now part of mainstream EMS practice.
Modern designs such as the Combat Application Tourniquet (CAT) and the SOF Tactical Tourniquet (SOFTT) have been found to be highly effective in trauma situations.
Most experts now recommend carrying at least two tourniquets in your ambulance jump bag, as some situations involve multiple casualties or require bilateral application.
Airway compromise can quickly lead to life-threatening events, so make sure your EMS response bag is packed with the right breathing support equipment. You’ll need to make sure you have multiple options for securing and supporting respiratory function.
Pocket masks and BVM devices allow you to quickly deliver positive pressure ventilation for patients who are unable to breathe properly on their own.
Choose BVMs with properly sized masks for the patients you’re most likely to treat (adult, pediatric, and infant sizes) and make sure your BVMs have transparent masks that allow you to observe the patient while in your care.
If a patient has fallen unconscious, you want to ensure they are still receiving adequate oxygen. Two of the best tools to ensure this care are oropharyngeal airways (OPAs) and nasopharyngeal airways (NPAs).
OPAs keep the patient’s tongue from obstructing the airway, while NPAs work in patients with intact gag reflexes who still need mechanical airway support.
Should you need to remove obstacles from a patient’s airways, you’ll want to ensure that your EMS jump bag has suction equipment.
Quality suction tools can quickly remove blood, vomit, secretions, or foreign material that threatens airway patency.
While there are auto-suction tools on the market, manual suction devices provide reliable, battery-free operation that works regardless of power availability. For first responder gear bags where weight and space matter, manual suction may be better.
If you are treating a patient with respiratory distress or trauma, you may need to help provide supplemental oxygen.
Portable oxygen cylinders in D or E sizes are great for providing an adequate supply for most emergency responses without adding excessive weight to your EMS jump bag.
After addressing any issues with airway or breathing, you’ll want to then address any circulatory problems. That means your EMS jump bag should come equipped with tools that allow you to quickly assess a patient’s circulatory needs and stabilize the patient properly.
One of the best tools you can have in your medical response bag is hemostatic gauze. This gauze has completely revolutionized hemorrhage control for wounds where tourniquets aren’t available or can’t be easily applied.
Look for products containing kaolin or chitosan – as these can help promote rapid clotting in wounds involving junctional areas (groin, axilla, or the neck).
Pressure dressings, such as the Israeli bandage, combine both wound coverage with sustained pressure application in a single design that’s easy to pack in a jump bag.
These trauma bandages are often elastic and incorporate closure mechanisms that maintain pressure without requiring additional tape or constant hand pressure.
If a patient is presenting with chest trauma or pneumothorax wounds, you’ll need to quickly apply a suitable chest seal.
Modern vented chest seals are designed to allow air to escape from the space while preventing air entry. Carry at least two seals, as some injuries require both anterior and posterior coverage.
Manual blood pressure measurement is key in crisis – particularly when it comes to those who have lost blood or consciousness.
Pack both adult and pediatric cuffs to accommodate patients of varying sizes. Also consider packing a stethoscope to help you hear better in potentially noisy environments.
In a crisis, you may need to quickly remove clothing, seatbelts, or other materials to best treat a patient. Trauma shears are a critical part of any EMS jump bag, and the best will have angled blades that lift material away from skin and blunt tips that prevent accidental laceration during use.
Invest in quality shears, as they are indispensable when it comes to first responder bag contents.
While many of the tools and equipment we cover here are involved with treating a patient, you’ll also need products that allow for proper assessment. So make sure your EMS jump bag has the right tools to allow you to gather information on a patient quickly and reliably.
Pulse oximeters are one of the fastest ways to assess oxygen saturation and pulse rate while still being non-invasive. Most modern pulse oximeters are compact and accurate, so they are easy to add to your jump bag.
You’ll also want to make sure you’ve packed a quality thermometer in your medical response bag!
Thermometers can help you quickly differentiate between various causes of altered mental status, as well as identify potential hypothermia or hyperthermia. Look for digital thermometers, as they offer the best speed and reliability.
This one might surprise you, but you’ll be amazed at how often you use it!
Penlights allow you to quickly evaluate pupil size, reactivity, and symmetry, while also providing illumination for examining wounds. Having a quality penlight can be a lifesaver, particularly in dark areas or at night. Look for LED penlights, as they offer the longest light lifecycle.
Last – but certainly not least – make sure your EMS jump bag is equipped with the right documentation equipment. Look for weather-resistant notepads, pens that write in wet or cold conditions, and other documentation tools that allow you to quickly jot down any important information you may need to refer to later.
It’s one thing to have the right equipment in your jump bag – it’s another to ensure that those tools are always there and available.
Restocking your EMS jump bag should happen after every use at a minimum. Always replace any supplies consumed during patient care. Create a checklist for making sure everything is restocked and packed before the jump bag returns to service.
You should also implement regular scheduled checks (using an EM jump bag checklist), no matter how recently you’ve used your bag. Since a crisis can occur at any time, an EMS jump bag checklist will help you ensure your bag is always ready to go when the moment strikes.
Remember: the time you invest in keeping your bag fully equipped and ready pays dividends when seconds matter.
You’ll often find the terms "jump bag" and "trauma bag" used interchangeably, but they actually describe different equipment configurations.
For most responders, a jump bag refers to a general-purpose first responder gear bag that is designed for a variety of calls EMS providers encounter (think cardiac events, respiratory distress, diabetic emergencies, overdoses, and minor trauma).
Trauma bags are designed to manage traumatic injuries. A trauma bag will often contain a much higher volume of hemorrhage control supplies, splinting materials, and wound management equipment. It’s wise to always have both an EMS jump bag and trauma bag ready for any circumstances.
Absolutely. Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Life Support (ALS) providers operate under different scopes of practice, so their equipment should reflect their training and certification levels.
BLS jump bags are designed to offer fundamental life support, such as airway management with basic adjuncts and oxygen therapy. They can also include automated external defibrillation, bleeding control, and basic assessment tools.
ALS bags go a step further by including advanced interventions like manual defibrillation, advanced airway management, intravenous access, and medication administration.
This breakdown of first responder bag contents goes well beyond a collection of medical supplies. A proper jump bag ensures you are ready at a moment’s notice to provide professional and proper care, no matter the situation.
At Kemp USA, we know that first responder gear must perform flawlessly under conditions that destroy lesser equipment. For over a decade, we've outfitted emergency responders nationwide with bags that stand up to daily use in challenging conditions.
We source and design our industry-leading EMS bags to help you serve in the capacities you need to every day. Explore our complete line of EMS bags, from our legendary Ultimate EMS Backpack to specialized trauma bags and first responder packs designed for specific deployment scenarios.
Your training prepared you to save lives. Your equipment should do the same. When you're ready to equip your team with bags built to professional standards, Kemp USA is ready to serve you.
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