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

If Goldilocks taught CPR...

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!

Front line First Aid

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!

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

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. 

MCR Medical invites you to Gobble Up the savings!

Welcome to MCR Medical Supply's very first, Black Friday / Cyber Monday sale!  We've never had such a sale before in the six year history of our company and we're all very excited to offer exceptional price reductions on some of our most popular and big ticket items.

While our business model has always been to find, and now develop, products that work well and pass the cost-effective savings onto you, our valued customers, after months of planning we're poised to bring you even more substantial savings!     

But why the sale? We're both making room to stock new items as well as re-pricing current offerings based on special permissions received from a few vendors to advertise exceptional pricing on products we distribute for them.  We won't always be able to offer these better-than-great values, so I encourage you to take us up on this while you can!

And there are lots of shopping options; look for deals on premium CPR and First Aid Training items on our website, eBay and Amazon stores. Watch for promo codes and more details to be published on Google+, Twitter and Facebook.

Black Friday-Cyber Monday discounts START THANKSGIVING DAY!  
After the thanks have been given and you've stuffed yourself to bursting, don't rush out to battle the cold and crowds. Relax in front of the web and browse our CPR, First Aid and disaster preparedness supplies in the comfort of slippers and sweats.  

This just in -- In time for the holiday sale, we have extended our free shipping offer to include Alaska and Hawaii!!! Now, orders over $100 at MCRmedical.com ship for free to the whole United States, INCLUDING Alaska, Hawaii, and APO/FPO armed forces mailboxes!

Make room for 2015!
Next year promises to be a very exciting year for the company with the introduction of new products and the re-introduction of redeveloped old favorites. Tweets to follow when those are available. 

Most importantly, I'd like to offer a heartfelt Thank You everyone for a great year.  We here at MCR Medical very much appreciate your business and are honored to continue serving you in 2015 and beyond! 

The MCR Medical CPR mask drought is finally over!

BVM-3081

 Summer sales have been especially brisk this year.  I suppose that's true for the season too. I distinctly remember telling someone, "you know, it's just six months til Christmas!"  Now, it's a little more than four months!  Lamentably, where has the time gone?
 
Looks too, like everyone is having their previously strangled training budget-belts slightly loosened. They can replace their 15+ year old CPR training manikins with new Prestan ones. I know I for one am getting much too old to lug those Laerdal Annes up and down flights of stairs. 

I'm looking forward to having one of my favorite products back in stock, our Adult/Child Training BVM in a hard case. The infant is great too, but as an old CPR rescuer, I never learned to resuscitate using a truly infant sized BVM.  We worked with what we had and nine times out of ten, that was an adult Ambu bag.  

The carrying case that holds the training BVM's contents is awesome.  Roomy enough to add other training necessities and sturdy enough to last through a couple drops - oopsie!  My students get a real feeling for what can be described as the art of resuscitating using a bag valve mask; without fail they say it's not as easy as it looks on TV!  That comment always makes me laugh.

Our restocking shipment is set to arrive this Monday, August 18, 2014.  In that shipment will be our training masks (MCRTM-I / MCRTM-A) and yes, they will still come with free training valves (MCRTV)!  Also coming are RM-2033s, RM-2071s and our adult/child as well as infant training BVMs.      

Thank you everyone for your patience during our supply drought.  It is very much appreciated as is your continued shopper loyalty.  We promise to keep bringing you great CPR and First Aid supplies! Now, if we could only get the American Heart Association to let us stock their books and DVDs.....

Responding without hesitation

Ambu^® CPR Res-Cue Key^® Keychain, CB-3021

CPR masks are necessary while performing CPR or rescue breathing as they help prevent transmission of harmful bacteria.

While we now train predominately with rescue or pocket masks, these aren't always practical to carry around with us on a lanyard, on our key ring, or even in our purse.

For a great any patient, any place alternative, Ambu manufactures this CPR mask and pouch. Ambu, a worldwide leader in professional rescuer equipment is a name synonymous with quality resuscitation supplies Their products can be found anywhere patient care is being performed - from the ambulance to the OR, Ambu is designed, used and trusted by those in the emergency response and patient care field.  

This individually packaged CPR key chain is branded with the Ambu logo. The 2" x 2" ultra-compact, easy to use CPR Res-Cue Key features a CPR face shield with a one-way valve that prevents contamination of the outer surface of the mask. The woven nylon pouch even has a standard key ring hook so you can easily take it with you - on a keychain, belt, or on a lanyard.

Resuscitation is simplified as the latex free mask secures over the patient's ears for hands-free rescuer operation. Essential operating instructions are printed on the semi-transparent barrier, which also allows the rescuer to monitor the patient's color and response. It's great as an all around CPR mask, as one size fits children to adults.

We all learned in class to wear our PPE during CPR. Now you can respond with greater confidence knowing you'll be protecting both you and your patient as you work toward ROSC - a successful resuscitation!

Introducing the most realistic CPR training valve on the market today!

MCRTV

Bringing innovation to the world of CPR training, MCR Medical Supply introduces the most realistic CPR training valve on the market today!

Teach your students with what they will be using out there in the field, and they'll be even more ready to respond. 

The trainers feature an integral air filter and valve that obstruct the flow of contaminants. These valves give your student the most realistic rescue mask training experience possible as they duplicate field-use rescue valves in both form and function.

They are packaged as 10 valves per box, and while they do not include a training rescue mask, those can be found in our store. 

Shop today to see these, plus our CPR training pocket masks, available in Adult, Child and Infant sizes. There's even a collapsible adult mask!   

Whether it's training BVMs, Prestan CPR manikins or First Aid student training kits, MCR Medical Supply is your premier source for CPR and First Aid Instructor supplies. 
 

Pocket Mask 101

Feeling intimidated by the new standard in resuscitative care, the pocket mask? If you answered yes, rest easy knowing that you are not alone.

But, there's nothing to fear. A pocket mask employs the same principles as any other resuscitation barrier or mask, it just has the convenience of being re-usable. While the valve you breathe into must be replaced after each use, the mask itself can be cleaned and decontaminated per CDC guidelines. 

When used with the head-tilt, chin-lift airway opening method, the rescue mask allows two avenues of entry during resuscitation.

And with two avenues of entry, each rescue breath delivers life saving oxygen your patient desperately needs. When not connected to an external oxygen source, exhaled air from the rescuer can still provide sufficient oxygen to live, up to 16%. Most masks (including ours) also have a built-in oxygen inlet, allowing for administration of 50-60% oxygen from an oxygen cylinder.

The portability of the mask is an added benefit. In contrast to the bag valve mask, which requires two hands to operate (one to form a seal and the other to squeeze the bag), the pocket mask allows for both of the rescuer's hands to be on the patient's head. This hand placement makes for a superior seal of the mask's pliable bladder to the patient's face, meaning less oxygen escapes from around the mask border and more goes to where it's really needed.

A question I often field is, "How do I know if my mask is still ok to use?" Unfortunately, there's no one size fits all answer. Depending on how the masks are stored, anywhere from one to many years. Best to inspect your equipment on an annual basis. In short, if the mask is still pliable and the air bladder full, it's still a good mask. Look for cracks in the body of the mask. Will the air bladder make a good seal to your patient's face? Is the head strap still stretchy? Is the mask's valve still working? Is it missing altogether? A good question to ask is, "Would I feel confident in providing care with this equipment?" If the answer is anything but a resounding, "Yes!", better to throw it out than risk it failing while responding.

It really is, just that easy! So whether you are instructing students or participating in a CPR class, this is the mask you want. Keep one with your AED, in your car, home, camper - anywhere you might be since you never know when an emergency situation might occur. At least for me, when I carry an umbrella, it never rains. If I forget it, I'm sure to get soaked. It's always better to have the tools and not need them, than to need the tools and not have them.

Now that you see there's nothing to fear, click here to shop our store for 100% latex-free CPR pocket masks. Be Ready with the Right Tools!