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A crash cart is a mobile emergency cart stocked with supplies used during life-threatening medical events. It can hold resuscitation tools, airway supplies, IV supplies, medications, and a defibrillator, depending on the facility. Care teams use it during situations such as cardiac arrest, severe breathing trouble, or sudden clinical decline. The exact contents depend on the setting, patient population, and facility policy.
read more about crash cart ...A crash cart can include a defibrillator, oxygen supplies, suction equipment, airway tools, IV access supplies, syringes, dressings, and emergency medications. Pediatric, adult, operating room, and specialty units can stock different items. Items are organized in drawers so staff can find them fast during a code or emergency response. Expired, missing, or misplaced supplies can slow care when seconds matter.
A crash cart is used when a patient needs urgent resuscitation or rapid emergency support. It can be brought to a bedside, procedure room, clinic area, or emergency department bay. During a code, team members can use the cart while others perform CPR, monitor the patient, or give medications. The cart supports emergency care, but it does not replace trained staff or emergency protocols.
Facilities check crash carts on a set schedule to confirm that equipment, medications, and supplies are ready. Staff can inspect locks, seals, drawers, defibrillator battery status, oxygen supplies, and expiration dates. After use, the cart should be restocked and secured before it returns to service. Any broken equipment or missing item should be reported right away.
Crash carts should be easy to access, clearly identified, and kept in assigned areas. Drawers should stay organized so staff do not waste time searching during an emergency. Carts with defibrillators also need working batteries or emergency power access. Regular drills and checks help staff stay familiar with the cart layout.
The name comes from its use during sudden medical emergencies, including situations where a patient's heart or breathing can fail. It is also called an emergency cart or code cart.
Crash carts are used by trained healthcare staff during emergencies. The cart contains medical tools and medications that require clinical training and facility protocols.
The schedule depends on facility policy and regulatory requirements. Checks often include medication dates, supply counts, lock status, defibrillator readiness, and equipment function.
The cart should be cleaned, restocked, checked, and secured before it is placed back into service. Any used, expired, missing, or damaged item should be replaced.
The Emergency Department Crash Cart: A Systematic Review and Suggested Contents. World Journal of Emergency Medicine via PubMed Central. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5847507/. Date Accessed May 26, 2026.
Crash-Cart Preparedness. The Joint Commission. https://digitalassets.jointcommission.org/api/public/content/5fbc8433ebaf4480a9e07807d0bb0c16?v=16cd4fc2. Date Accessed May 26, 2026.
Treatment of Cardiac Arrest. American Heart Association. https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/cardiac-arrest/emergency-treatment-of-cardiac-arrest. Date Accessed May 26, 2026.
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). U.S. Food & Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/cardiovascular-devices/automated-external-defibrillators-aeds. Date Accessed May 26, 2026.
Guidelines for Emergency Crash Cart & CPR. Ministry of Health, Sultanate of Oman. https://www.moh.gov.om/media/qejghazu/guidelines-for-emergency-crash-cart-cpr.pdf. Date Accessed May 26, 2026.