Thursday, December 24, 2015

       
Working here at MCR has been a blast these past few months. Time truly does fly when you are having fun! It’s not just been having fun though, I’m also educating myself and others every day, which I consider a blessing. With that education comes knowledge and since I’ve had quite a few inquiries about various products, I would like to share some updates with you.

As we’ve fielded a lot of calls about the elastic bandages that we once carried, here now is the low down on them. While inspecting the product, the quality control team noticed that many of the bandages showed poor manufacturing quality.  As an organization that stands behind their quality, these particular bandages did not meet our exacting standards. For that reason they were removed from the product line. 
Quality is a top priority. And part of our company philosophy is one of distinction from the competition. One way we do that is to stock products that are above and beyond what our competitors sell. Another differentiating factor is that MCR Medical Supply endeavors to provide you with a quality product at an amazing price.
Our elastic bandage product was a very popular item and because of that we have been working hard to find a manufacturer who can meet our exacting standards of quality and price. That’s not as simple as it sounds and a lot of research and tests need to be run to ensure that it is a quality product that is importantly, latex free and safe for distribution. For our loyal customers who are constantly reaching out to us regarding these elastic bandages, fear not! We have an estimated delivery of our new and improved elastic bandages for -- Spring 2016!
Another hot topic item is our MCR Re-Inflatable training mask. Here, we have taken a CPR training staple and improved it. On-the-go trainers who constantly use their masks, you will understand how a re-inflatable air bladder on our training masks provide tangible benefits.
Being able to form a tight seal with your hands around the mask so that it conforms well to the manikin’s face is necessary; air won’t enter the lungs, the chest won’t rise and valuable training time is wasted if students struggle to see the chest rise.
When using one of our MCR Re-Inflatable masks you are able to customize the mask to better fit your training manikin, deflating or inflating the mask to form a tighter seal around the manikin’s nose and mouth. With appropriately inflated masks, students will find it easier to make a proper seal and spend more time perfecting this life saving technique.
Another benefit of MCR Medical Supply’s Re-Inflatable CPR training mask is longevity of use. With training budgets stretched to the max, this is one piece of equipment you won’t discard nearly as often. Find a bladder that has gone flat before a big class? No need to panic, simply re-inflate it to your specific volume need with the included air syringe!
The ten-pack training masks, available in both adult and infant sizes, come complete with the air syringe and a complementary pack of ten training valves.
Thanks for checking in with us and be sure to peruse all the budget-saving deals at mcrmedical.com. We’re looking forward to a New Year of expanded inventory, new product offerings, and as always all with our standard, “Wow! That was fast!” shipping.
Ashley

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Rain, rain go away. Please come again another day!



RPY-1
"Happy to have my MCR poncho!"
Here in Ohio, we're in what seems like our 10th week of rain. It's really raining here -- a lot.

The shows, however, must go on! Concerts, festivals, Fairs!  I love fair food - especially fried dough, aka elephant ears.  Mmmmm, sugary, fried, fluffy on the inside...so yummy...  but I digress.

Recently, when my husband and I were attending a Paul Bunyan show, a huge rainstorm blew in from nowhere. Everyone ran for cover; the barns were packed. It was uncomfortable to be in wet clothes all day even for the ride home.  The show was great, the vendors top notch, but I didn't spend as much time there as I would have liked because our clothes were wet.

We've also done volunteer first aid events where the weather has been wet. Our ill and injured patients need to be kept dry while waiting for advanced medical care or transport. That's another instance when having an emergency rain poncho is useful. Disposability in this case is important.

There are millions of other times when wanting, or needing, to stay dry is a necessity. Our MCR economy rain ponchos can help. Small enough to keep in a purse, pocket or knapsack, they'll be a welcome addition to your 72-hour emergency kit.

Friday, June 26, 2015

Reintroducing MCR keychain mask and glove kits!


MCR Medical Supply CPR keychain with Ambu mask and gloves
CPRkey-G
They're back --we are proud to announce the release our new CPR keychain with nitrile gloves!

A while ago MCR Medical Supply offered a CPR key chain pouch kit with gloves, but quality manufacturers stopped making the kits a couple years ago and good, pre-made kits became hard to find. The pouches in the market became a little shoddy and the masks started showing up from unknown parties. We decided then that we would not offer a kit, rather than offer one of the available but lower quality kits. Even the big name kits on the market today leave much to be desired.
  
As a result, last year we decided to start assembling the kits ourselves and have been working on the project since. Finally, we found a manufacturer willing to make us a nice pouch, then convinced Ambu to provide the masks in bulk, and ultimately decided to include a pair of Adenna nitrile gloves to both complete and compliment the contents. 

The compact, easy to use Ambu CPR Res-Cue Key mask in the kits feature a CPR face shield with one-way valve that prevents contamination of the outer surface of the mask and has elastic bands to secure the mask to the patient. The Ambu mask also includes a handy instruction card that illustrates how to apply the mask and a reminder of the CPR basics.

The gloves are 4mil nitrile, which out perform the vinyl gloves found in most other kits. The texture on the gloves provides a strong grip in both dry and wet applications. The Adenna Precision Nitrile Gloves ensure maximum dexterity as well as superior puncture and tear resistance making these an overall excellent choice in barrier protection.

The kits are assembled here in Ohio by our staff.  We understand that some folks want to supply their own preferred gloves, so the CPR keychain mask kit without gloves is also available.

Thank you for your patience while we worked to develop and manufacture this new product.  We're especially excited to reintroduce our own kit, and appreciate the opportunity to once again be your supplier of CPR keychains with or without gloves!

Monday, June 8, 2015

If Goldilocks taught CPR...

MCRTM-AR
MCR refillable training mask

Do your pocket training masks make you feel like Goldilocks?  'It's too full! It's not full enough.  It needs refilled!'   Get ready to feel that way no more. We listened to what our instructors were saying and have manufactured (what I think) is the first CPR training mask that has a re-inflatable air bladder!

As an instructor, it's hard for my new students to get the hang of how to position the mask correctly on the manikin's face, let alone make a good seal with their hands and give a breath sufficient to create a visible chest rise.  Some folks say their mask isn't full enough, but I remind them that in order to create a good seal, you'll need that mask to conform to the contours of your patient's face.  If your mask's air bladder is overinflated it won't work any better than if it was completely deflated. 

MCR Medical Supply’s re-inflatable training masks allow you to customize or refill your training mask’s air bladder! With the included syringe, you can add or remove air from the bladder, individualizing the CPR training pocket mask to best fit the contours of your manikin.

The non-collapsible CPR training mask is a cost-effective solution for teaching CPR without using a more expensive rescue mask. The mask’s stems are fully compatible with all brands of universal CPR valves and because the washable trainers are capable of being decontaminated per CDC guidelines, they’re reusable and help maximize your training dollar!

The set of individually packaged masks includes a FREE pack of ten MCR Medical Supply disposable CPR training valves. These valves give your student the most realistic rescue mask training experience possible as they duplicate field-use rescue valves in form and function. 

MCR Medical Supply’s training CPR masks should be inspected and disinfected after use, replacing as necessary. The masks do not have an oxygen port and are designed for training purposes only.

A YouTube video on how the masks function is in production, so stay tuned!


Thursday, May 21, 2015

Front line First Aid

MCR Medical Supply first aid kit
FAK28-MCR

Welcome Summer!

Memorial Day marks the unofficial start of Summer.  In addition to fresh lemonade, taking a dip in the pool and having outdoor sunlight past 7pm, summertime can also means stings and scrapes -- sometimes worse.

The latest 2015 statistics show accidents as the 4th leading cause of death in America. That's why it's important to not only keep current with your CPR skills, but to revisit your basic First Aid training as well. While the basics remain the same, like applying direct pressure to stem bleeding and splinting an injury in the position you find it, it is still necessary to practice what you've learned and keep the supplies you need on hand to best utilize those ingrained skills. 

Having a first aid kit is a step in the right direction. There is, however, no substitute for preparedness. We all need to examine our lives, busy as they are, and see what accidents or illnesses we're most likely to encounter. Our warehouse personnel need to be cautious when handling boxes as a mishandled cardboard box cuts just as easily as paper. And office workers can attest to how painful and inconvenient a bad paper cut can be. Little league coaches, do you know how to care for a child after they slide into second base and nick a fielder's cleat?

Scrapes and scars are part of life's adventure. Congratulations to everyone reading this as I bet at some point you've faced  a situation where you required some first aid care, but no one was around. Your excellent administration of self-care is allowing you to read this article now - I applaud your efforts!

I must confess that one common practice often portrayed on TV and in movies makes my husband and I cringe every time we see it. Please, please do not worry about cleaning a wound when it is still bleeding profusely!!! If you're soaking dressings with fresh blood, there's no need to worry about washing germs away -- the bleeding is going to kill you faster than any perceived infection. So please, get that bleeding under control first, then worry about cleansing, dressing and bandaging, that way you'll stick around long enough to worry about infection!       

With that said, a personal first aid kit ensures you've got your essentials at hand.  MCR Medical Supply's compact kit is small in stature but big on utility. Measuring just 4” x 4”, it’s chock full of components to treat minor injuries. Plus, it’s our smallest kit which still includes the popular ice pack. The compact first aid kit is made from durable nylon, stores easily in a briefcase, purse, glove compartment, or desk drawer, and has a loop for easy carrying on a duty belt or backpack accessory strap. The kit comes with: 
  • 1 Instant Cold Pack
  • 2 BZK Antiseptic Towelettes (alcohol-free towelettes to cleanse without stinging)
  • 1 Non-Adherent Bandage
  • 1 First Aid Tape 1/2" x 2.5yds.
  • 1 Rolled Gauze 2" x 4yds.
  • 10 Adhesive Bandages 3/4" x 3"
  • 5 Adhesive Bandages 3/8" x 1 1/2"
  • 1 Fingertip Bandage
  • 1 Knuckle Bandage
  • 1 Pair Vinyl Gloves
  • 1 Triple Antibiotic Pack 0.9gm
  • 1 Hydrocortisone Pack 0.9gm
  • 1 Hand Sanitizer Pack 0.9gm
  • 1 First Aid Instruction Guide
Not everything you need in your kit?  (Because you've assessed your daily living situation and found you really don't need the hydrocortisone, but could really use some extra gloves.) Personalize it!  Make it fit your lifestyle.  That's good advice for any first aid or 72-hour disaster prep kit you buy. It has been assembled with what someone thinks folks will need, but I always think of things I'd like more of and some items I don't need at all. Always open the pack to see what's in there and where it is. Don't waste precious minutes rummaging through an unfamiliar pack searching for a dressing. Keep sterile packaging in its original condition, but absolutely rearrange, add or remove things from the kit. A rescue medic friend says you should be able to close your eyes, reach into your kit and know what's where. We'll work on it, Mike!

In the meantime, I welcome you to peruse the MCR Medical Supply website, our Amazon or eBay store to see items you can use to personalize your own kit. Have a happy and safe Summer!

Friday, April 17, 2015

Welcome Ashley Miller to the MCR Medical Supply team!



Welcome Ashley Miller to the MCR Medical family! We're so happy to have you helping our customers in the front office.  You, along with Cindy Young (another talented and recent MCR addition), are pushing us further than we ever thought we could take the company. The passion you bring to our office is contagious -- in a good way -- and we're looking forward to doing even more in 2015!

I asked Ashley to write about her first impressions of us and the company.  Not giving her much guidance in what I was looking for, this is what she had to say: 

Just recently joining the MCR team, I was taken back by their kindness. I was welcomed with open arms and treated as if I had been here for years. Not only was their hospitality noticed, but their hard work ethic as well. I can recall during the interview process being asked where I envisioned myself in let’s say the next ten years. I didn’t have an answer for them; all I knew was that with them is where I wanted to be - learning, helping others and growing with an amazing company.  The growth of this company is unbelievable and the ability to maintain the close customer relationships they have is mind blowing. Within this short time I’ve been here I’ve learned so much. Not just computer software and how to take an order over the phone, but so much more than the outside eye would perceive.
We’ll start first with the products. During my first or second day of shadowing I was given a tour around the warehouse. I remember distinctly being told something along the lines of “this is where the “so and so” items used to be, but the quality of product we were receiving wasn’t living up to our MCR brand standards so we’re no longer carrying that particular product”. That right there says it all; being affiliated with and organization that actually stands behind the products that they are offering to their customers and not just shipping out something that will make a quick buck for them.
During my tour I was also introduced our team of employees. Afterwards, I learned that MCR has a very close relationship with ViaQuest Employment Services, an organization that helps special needs children and adults stay stimulated with work or activities along with assisting them with any other needs they may have that might be a little more difficult for them to do themselves, including but not limited to, work placement and housing. Working for MCR and knowing their involvement in the community makes me feel like I personally am a part of something that is making the lives of others better. Which leaves me feeling accomplished and proud of my affiliation with them.
Continuing on with my affiliation with MCR, I was pleasantly surprised that not only did my working training consist of my everyday office tasks but CPR and First Aid training as well. I have been certified for the past four/five years through an old employer that made it a requirement. Not knowing much beyond the basics of what’s illustrated on a laminated poster that’s required by most employers to hang in various locations around the work environment, my training consisted of 5-7 short videos (that where mentally exhausting) and a few breaths/CPR compressions into a manikin.
I was looking forward to broadening my knowledge of the proper protocol for various first aid and CPR emergencies. Not knowing any better, I considered myself “certified” based on a little card saying I was. Had an actual emergency took place I cannot guarantee I would even know where to start.
Until I came here.
I was instructed on the various emergencies, how they may differ and how to act calmly and promptly. With all the proper training supplies at my finger tips and the guidance of an amazing team to educate me, I can now honestly say I feel more than comfortable in my abilities to attempt to resuscitate an infant, child or adult. The material I’ve learned here was simply bypassed in my previous training. Like tilting the head back to make sure the air way is clear when giving breaths or the amount of pressure to use on an infant when doing chest compressions. It was only after learning all this new material I came to realize how important it is to make sure that you are properly trained and that you feel comfortable using your skills if the time ever comes.
Coming to work is no longer an obligation or chore for me. Having a passion for something you do truly does make your career feel more like a life style. Being able to educate our customers and myself daily on our products and their capabilities has given me a completely different outlook on the medical field and its services. Being involved with an organization that gives back to the community brings a peace to me and knowing that I’m now a part of a something so much bigger than I can fathom is reassuring and hopeful.

Wow, I was not expecting that!! Goes to show you never know what another person is thinking until you ask.  I'd always hoped to make people feel welcome in our office and empowered to act in any emergency, but never imagined it could have such a profound impact on a person's perception of us as a management team and by extension, a company as a whole. Thank you Ashley for your kind words!      

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Rub-a-dub-dub, but don't put that manikin in the tub!




http://www.mcrmedical.com/product/PP-FM-300.html
A question I receive quite often is:

How do I clean and disinfect my CPR training manikins during and especially after class? 

Protecting our students from disease transmission is always important, now more than ever, with the rise in antibiotic resistant strains of bad bugs. The importance of using PPE (vinyl or nitrile gloves and CPR masks) during practice, as well an emphasis on effective hand washing must be a part of everyone's class, all the time.  These simple steps are the first line of defense against various types of diseases, even life threatening respiratory illness and intestinal distress.

Some professional CPR training manikins can be cleaned and disinfected according to CDC guidelines. Instructors should carefully follow all manufacturers’ recommendations and verify the products used to clean / disinfect are appropriate for their particular manikin and will not damage it. While the risk of infection from CPR manikin training is very low, it is still present. Help further minimize the risk by using proper cleaning and disinfection procedures.

If students are sharing a manikin during class:
Between each student, encourage vigorous wiping of the manikin's face, mouth and chest with a gauze pad wet with 70% isopropyl alcohol or a comparable disinfecting product. Leave the surface wet for at least 30 seconds before wiping dry.


After class:
Scrub and wipe the entire manikin with either Clorox®-type disinfecting wipes or a mixture of ¼ cup of non-scented liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Leave wiped surfaces wet with the solution for 10 minutes. 

Internal surfaces can be cleaned using rubbing alcohol which will both decontaminate surfaces and aid in drying, preventing fungal growth.

Disinfection protocols change. Stay up-to-date by viewing current CDC guidelines. 

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Ultralite™ and ultra affordable!


mcrmedical.comAdmittedly, I'm not as young as I use to be. Carrying 30 pounds of Laerdal Little Annes up four flights of stairs sure was taking a toll on my knees and back. By the time class started, exhaustion had already stolen most of my strength.  I love teaching and didn't want to abandon my passion, but the arduous journey to reach some client's classrooms forced me to consider this option.

 Enter the Prestan® Professional Ultralite™ manikin. A godsend at only 13 pounds for the 4-pack! But what about the quality? At  $340 for the 4-pack, how good can they really be?  Not surprisingly, I found them to have the same quality and durability we've all come to expect from Prestan® Professional products. The CPR training manikins have neither a compression depth clicker, nor LED rate monitors, but truthfully, I don't miss them. Especially if we're doing a recertification class where the students are experienced CPR practitioners. 

Fellow instructors who currently use other portable manikins such as Actar, CPR Prompt and Basic Buddy will prefer the quality of the Ultralite™ for their CPR training-on-the-go. And you can ditch that lung bag insertion tool!

Schools, aquatic centers, mass training centers as well as general work place trainers will appreciate this latest offering from Prestan. The vinyl and latex free Ultralites, while only available in medium skin tone, offer a quality choice in CPR training manikins for budget-conscious organizations.    

Prestan Professional's most portable manikin training kit includes: 4 Manikin Torsos, 4 Manikin Heads, 4 Compression Pistons, Nylon Piston Bag, 50-pack Lung Bags, Nylon Carrying Case with Detachable Shoulder Strap and an Instruction Sheet. 

Features of the Prestan® Ultralite™ manikin:
  • Uniquely fast and easy set-up.
  • Stackable torsos and heads generate a compact package for transporting multiple units.
  • Clamshell torso opening provides quick access for the easy-to-insert lung bag.
  • Realistic skin resists dirt, grime and grease.
  • Adequate upper chest sizing facilitates AED pad placement and training.
  • Visual anatomy landmarks reinforce proper hand placement for compressions.
  • Head-tilt illustrates how to open the airway and allows each student to observe a true chest rise when proper head-tilt chin-lift technique is used.
  • Life tested to a half-million compressions.
  • Manikins are easy to clean and capable of being decontaminated per CDC guidelines.
  • Three-year factory warranty against defects in workmanship.