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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
EMS equipment is the set of devices and supplies a ground ambulance carries so that its crew can assess, treat and transport patients. The most widely cited national reference is the 2020 joint position statement Recommended Essential Equipment for BLS and ALS Ground Ambulances, which sorts equipment into basic life support (BLS) and advanced life support (ALS) columns. This guide summarizes that list by category, and explains what it deliberately leaves out. It is written for students, buyers and clinic staff who need to read an equipment list.
What EMS equipment is
EMS equipment, also searched as EMS gear, EMT equipment, EMT supplies or paramedic equipment, means the airway, bleeding-control, cardiac, diagnostic, infection-control, splinting, transport and safety items carried on an ambulance. Who uses it: emergency medical responders and EMTs (the BLS levels) and advanced EMTs and paramedics (the ALS levels), as defined in the National Scope of Practice. The 2020 statement was produced by the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) with the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma, the EMS for Children Innovation and Improvement Center, the Emergency Nurses Association and the National Association of State EMS Officials, and was endorsed by the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians (NAEMT).
The statement covers ground ambulances only. It does not define the contents of a first responder kit, a fire-engine or police-vehicle kit, or a first aid kit; for a general kit see items inside a first aid kit.
BLS vs ALS: what the 2020 list sorts by level
BLS equipment covers the EMR and EMT levels; ALS equipment covers the AEMT and Paramedic levels, and the ALS column reads “all BLS equipment plus the following”. The table lists examples from the statement; it is not the full list.
| Category | BLS examples | Added at ALS level |
|---|---|---|
| Airway, ventilation, oxygenation | Portable and on-board oxygen; titratable oxygen delivery (nasal, partial and full face) from neonates to adults; oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airways; manual and/or powered suction; a device capable of non-invasive positive pressure ventilation; self-inflating manual ventilation devices and masks | Direct and/or video laryngoscopy, Magill forceps, supraglottic airways (neonates to adults) |
| Bleeding control and wound care | Commercial arterial tourniquets; wound packing material; gauze sponges; adhesive bandages and tape; occlusive (“chest seal”) dressings; irrigation fluid | Chest decompression needles or a commercial device (sizes in the next section) |
| Cardiac and circulation | Automated external defibrillator (AED) with adult and pediatric or combination pads | Device for automatic and/or manual defibrillation with rhythm monitoring in at least three leads, 12-lead ECG, transcutaneous pacing, continuous waveform capnography |
| Diagnostic tools | Glucometer; pulse oximeter with sensors from neonates to adults; stethoscope; blood pressure cuffs from neonates to adults; thermometer | See the cardiac row |
| Medication delivery and vascular access | Devices for oral, inhaled, intramuscular and intranasal routes; skin antiseptic supplies | IV and IO supplies; isotonic crystalloid fluid and tubing with adjustable rate; pressure infusion device |
| Orthopedic injury care and transport | Extremity and femoral splinting; pelvic splinting; cold packs; elastic bandages; extrication board or device; spinal motion restriction materials; portable stretcher or litter; collapsible stair chair; wheeled multi-level gurney | No additional items |
| Safety | 5 lb ABC fire extinguisher; ANSI Class 2 or 3 reflective vest or outerwear; impact-resistant eye protection (ANSI Z87.1); roadside warning devices; portable reusable light | No additional items |
| Temperature management | Blankets, towels, heat packs | No additional items |
| Miscellaneous | Bandage or trauma shears; a device for two-way communication with dispatch, medical control and receiving hospitals; a triage marking system interoperable with local healthcare entities | No additional items |
For individual items see the CASRAI explainers on the bag valve mask, tourniquet types, splints and gurneys.
Pediatric and neonatal equipment
The statement says that availability and use of appropriate pediatric-sized equipment is necessary, not discretionary, and recommends that agencies carry age-appropriate equipment for their patients. Many rows run “neonates to adults”, for example airways, oxygen delivery, pulse oximeter sensors and blood pressure cuffs. The ALS chest decompression row shows how sizing differs by patient:
| Patient | Needle gauge | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | 14 gauge or larger | Minimum 3.25 in (8.25 cm), or a commercial chest decompression device |
| Pediatric (under 56 in / 144 cm) | 14 gauge | Maximum 1.5 in (3.8 cm) |
| Newborn | 23 gauge | Maximum 0.75 in (2 cm) |
See what is a decompression needle for the device itself. Other pediatric-specific entries include bulb suction, weight-based dosing tools (the statement says these can reduce dosing errors), a pediatric fluid-bolus device that limits inadvertent over-administration, and a pediatric restraint system or age- and size-appropriate car safety seat. BLS neonatal items include two umbilical cord clamps, a cord cutting tool, an infant head cover, towels, a blanket, gauze dressings and material to maintain body temperature.
Infection control items
The BLS column lists items for Universal and Standard Precautions, waterless hand cleanser, a sharps container, collection supplies for vomit, urine and feces, biohazard bags, surface cleaning and disinfecting products, and trash bags. By transmission type it lists contact precaution items (gloves, eye protection, gowns), droplet precaution items (surgical masks, eye protection) and airborne precaution items (N95 respirators in sizes appropriate to the providers, with eye protection, or a powered air-purifying respirator). The statement also says latex-free items should be used whenever possible or practical.
What the national list leaves out
- Quantities. The statement says agencies should carry equipment and supplies in quantities determined by the medical director, and recommends that governments avoid requiring arbitrary minimum amounts of list items.
- A medication list. The statement says specific medication recommendations were not made; it refers only to medications germane to the agency’s approved protocols.
- Items it says should no longer be carried. Military Antishock Trousers (MAST, also called the Pneumatic Antishock Garment) and syrup of ipecac, because of evidence of harm or lack of efficacy.
- Locally optional items. Some items may be optional at the local level depending on the agency-defined scope of practice and applicable clinical guidelines. For example, endotracheal tubes and cricothyrotomy supplies may be carried but are not recommended as universally required on all ALS ground ambulances.
How state lists differ from the national list
The authors reviewed the equipment lists of all 56 U.S. states and territories. They found that 39 had statutory lists more than five years old, and that commercial arterial tourniquets were missing from 29 state or territory lists. Some lists still included items such as MAST and syrup of ipecac, and some put items like CPAP and nebulized medications at the wrong level (BLS vs ALS). The statement recommends that lists be reviewed at intervals not exceeding five years. The national statement is a recommendation, not a law; the list that binds a given agency is the one in its own state or territory rules.
Common mistakes
- Treating the list as a quantity schedule. The national statement gives no minimum counts; quantities are set by the medical director.
- Assuming a second-hand list is current. The statement’s own review found many state lists five or more years old.
- Equating equipment with competence. The statement stresses that the presence of equipment on an ambulance does not equal provider competence in using it.
- Substituting adult sizes for pediatric ones. The pediatric rows are separate entries, not optional extras.
- Skipping maintenance. The statement’s quality-assurance points call for preventative maintenance, routine function checks, and rapid correction of missing or malfunctioning equipment.
Frequently asked questions
What equipment is on an ambulance?
Under the 2020 joint list: airway and oxygen devices, bleeding-control supplies, an AED or a cardiac monitor/defibrillator, diagnostic tools, infection-control items, splinting and spinal motion restriction materials, stretchers and a gurney, and safety and communication equipment. ALS ambulances carry all BLS equipment plus the additional ALS items.
What is the difference between EMT and paramedic equipment?
The list is organized by agency level of care: EMT falls in the BLS column, paramedic in the ALS column, which adds items such as laryngoscopy, 12-lead ECG, continuous waveform capnography, and IV and IO supplies.
Is there an EMS equipment list that every state follows?
No. The 2020 statement is a joint recommendation. Each state or territory sets its own list, and the statement found that many of them are out of date.
What is in a first responder kit?
The 2020 statement does not define one, because it applies to BLS and ALS ground ambulances only. A first responder’s required kit depends on the agency’s protocols and the applicable local rules.
Sources
- Lyng J, et al. Recommended Essential Equipment for BLS and ALS Ground Ambulances 2020: A Joint Position Statement. Prehospital Emergency Care 2021;25(3):451-459. doi:10.1080/10903127.2021.1886382. Full text: https://media.emscimprovement.center/documents/Recommended_Equipment_for_BLS__ALS_Ambulances_2020_AFld1Wy.pdf (checked 2026-11-01).
- NAEMSP, position statement page: https://naemsp.org/position-statement/recommended-essential-equipment-for-basic-life-support-and-advanced-life-support-ground-ambulances-2020-a-joint-position-statement/ (checked 2026-11-01).
