Capabilities and Medical Advantages
Carolinas MED-1 is designed to provide a comprehensive level of patient care services at the site of a natural or man-made disaster, or mass casualty incident/event. The delivery of life-saving treatment measures and comprehensive medical-surgical care in the field setting can now be provided in a clean, clinical environment.

The patient care component is designed, equipped, and staffed to manage minor to severe emergency medical conditions, including operative trauma surgery and intensive medical care. Two 53-foot tractor-trailers, one serving as the patient care facility, the other as a support and equipment storage unit, provide the infrastructure. The patient care facility incorporates six critical care beds, including two isolated beds so that surgical procedures can be performed in a clean-contaminated environment with full trauma surgery and anesthetic capabilities. The remainder of the trailer consists of emergency department beds and a dental/ENT chair. The following clinical applications are possible:

1. Operative procedures required for emergent hemorrhage control

Open laparotomy for exploration, resection, and repair
Vascular reconstruction
Tube thoracostomy
Chest thoracotomy

2. Emergent and comprehensive airway support

Rapid sequence induction for intubation
Alternative and difficult airway adjuncts
Surgical airway control

3. Conscious sedation for limited or restorative procedures

Joint dislocation reduction
Fracture realignment, stabilization, and splinting
Complicated wound debridement and repair
Dental procedures

4. Acute cardiovascular and pulmonary care

Invasive and noninvasive advanced life support for cardiovascular emergencies
Thrombolytics for acute myocardial infarction
Chest pain / myocardial infarction rule out using cardiac biomarkers and continuous ST-segment trend monitoring
Post-resuscitation / critical care monitoring
Ventilator support
Non-invasive continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) respiratory care
Comprehensive asthma care

5. Minor surgical procedures

Suture repair
Burn debridement
Foreign body removal
Abscess drainage

6. Dental, ear, nose, and throat care

Dental abscesses drainage
Temporary coverings for tooth avulsion
Nasal packs
Nasopharyngeal endoscopy for foreign bodies in the throat

7. General medical care for the following

Temperature emergencies (hyperthermia / hypothermia)
Dehydration
Gastroenteritis
Vomiting or diarrheal disease
Otitis externa and media
Seizures
Sprains, strains, fractures
Back pain
Eye emergencies (foreign bodies, conjunctivitis)
Allergic reactions and anaphylaxis
Gynecologic and urologic emergencies
Diabetic emergencies
Headache