Carrying heavy equipment may be impractical

BMJ 1995;310:735-736 (18 March)

Letters

Carrying heavy equipment may be impractical

EDITOR,--General practitioners are exhorted to carry nebulisers,electrocardiographs, and defibrillators while on call.¹ Howcan I, a woman weighing 54 kg, be expected to carry an electrocardiographand a defibrillator as well as my medical bag up five flightsof stairs in a block of flats, where the lift is invariablyout of order or its floor swimming in urine? What do I do withthe equipment while visiting patients who do not require it?If I leave it in the car the possibility of its being stolenis high. Have the authors considered the practical implicationsof their advice?

General practitioner Frenchay, Bristol BS16 2QY

Judith A Langfield