Victoring Tinker Knife I've carried a Victorinox knife since I was about 10. I do sometimes carry a simple blade, but a Swiss Army knife is absolutely essential in my EDC for fixing stuff, maintaining things and generally being handy. View on Amazon →

Write in the Rain EMS Notebook Waterproof notebook for patient notes and accident diagrams. This notebook is organized in SAMPLE format, so it's got prompts for all the common patient information. This can be a big help in keeping your paperwork organized and handoffs crisp! View on Amazon →

Write in the Rain Pen Waterproof ink in a compact pen that will write upside down and in extreme temperatures. It's perfect for a front shirt pocket. Just hang on to it, it's a nice pen! View on Amazon →

Kleen Kanteen A stainless steel kanteen. Durable and completely BPA free. This is a tough little bottle that you should expect to keep for years. It's small enough to fit into a messenger bag or backpack and still carries enough water for the day. Please note that this isn't insulated, it's mostly for water. View on Amazon →

Lunch Box with Plate and Bowl Everything you need to stay away from fast food! A burly little lunchbox that is BPA free. I've been using a Bento style box lately, but I still like the simplicity of this one. View on Amazon →

Bison Belt A durable belt that won't slip. It's smoke jumper approved! I like that the excess belt has velcro that keep it from flopping around. It's professional looking and the buckle has a nice finish. View on Amazon →

Disposable Penlights A nice concentric beam of light, a nice pocket clip, and a pupil gauge. This is pretty much a commodity item, but some of the cheap ones are better than others. These seem to be above average for their price point. I really like that they are cheap enough to toss when you need to! View on Amazon →

Personal Pulse Oximeter A simple pulse-ox meter, perfect for your personal equipment bag. This isn't rated for medical diagnosis - but it's perfect for keeping you own bag. If you're used to having one in your rig, it's nice to have one at home in the medicine cabinet, and for this price, it's really reasonable to have one of your own. View on Amazon →

CRKT Drifter Kife This is my new everyday carry knife. It is thin enough to clip to my pants pocket, and can be opened with either hand. It's made from good steel, and it sharpens well. It's not fancy. It's been durable and practical, and I highly recommend it. View on Amazon →

Peet Boot Dryer I wish I'd added to the site earlier! This is great for keeping your work boots from getting funky in the winter. They'll last longer and your feet will be healthier to have warm and dry boots at the start of a shift. We've got one here that is more than 30 years old! They are quiet and reliable and gently dry your boots overnight. View on Amazon →

Distil Union Minimalist Wallet I've been carrying this wallet for about two years now, and it's the best wallet I've ever used. It carries ID and primary card on one side and other cards in the other side. It's got a very clever money clip in the center and it virtually disappears into my front pocket. It holds the cards very securely and not a single stich is out of place after all of these days. It's a fantastic wallet! View on Amazon →

Hydro Flask Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle This thing can keep coffee hot for 12 hours. It can keep things cold even longer! It's a little expensive, but it really works. The lid is easy to remove, and it's been durable so far. It took a flyer off the roof of my Jeep and has survived even that. When the lid got ground up in the sink disposal I was even able to order a new lid replacement. View on Amazon →

Superfeet Insoles Superfeet can be difference in tired feet at the end of the shift and going running when you get home. I own these for every pair of boots and shoes I own. I consider the cost of a fresh pair to be part of buying new shoes. Superfeet insoles come in a variety of versions, but I prefer the classic green. These offer great arch support and excellent comfort. If you've never used them before, give them a few days before you judge them. They are a little like Birkenstocks - you need to get used to the new shape. Upgrade your boots today! View on Amazon →

Protac Tactical Flashlight A powerful and sturdy little light with a pocket clip and a very bright LED bulb. It's a nice compromise between a spot light and flood pattern and provides lots of useful light. It's powerful enough to be really useful and small enough so that your aren't "That Guy". I mean, I get it - I love having ridiculous looking tactical lights that can shine like the Batman sign, but this is a reasonable, useful, everyday carry flashlight. View on Amazon →

Timex Weekender Watch This watch has a red second hand, 24 hour time markings, and is inexpensive enough that ruining it on a bad call won't be a disaster. It's a nice size, has rounded corners and mine has been quite durable so far, managing lots of mountain biking without any major scratches on the mineral glass front. The band is replaceable, which is nice, though I wish it came with a silicone band option. It's a standard size band, and so if you wanted to have it be a little more washable, that'd be a worthy upgrade. View on Amazon →

Conterra Trauma Pro EMS/Radio Holster Heavy duty nylon and smart design makes this a durable EMS holster. It holds trauma shears, gloves, and a radio or cellphone. A small pocket can hold a miniature flashlight, pen, or window punch. This is a useful piece of equipment, and it's hard to beat the quality of Conterra manufacturing. View on Amazon →

Timbuk2 Lightweight Flight Messenger Bag A classic messenger bag for daily carrying everything from lunch to an extra layer. I've carried the same one for more than twenty years, and while a little scuffed up - it still makes the trip to the farmers market with me on Saturday mornings. View on Amazon →

Leatherman Skeletool Lightweight Multitool An updated classic version of their original multitool. There's a reason that Leatherman is still considered the best - and this tool is it. Easy opening knife, pliers, and a collection a versatile tools. All in stainless steel with a 25 year limited warranty. This is small enough to carry in your pocket instead of in a sheath, and mine lives in my messenger bag that I proudly drag around with me (while insisting it's not a man purse.) View on Amazon →

NRS Neko Titanium Blunt Tip Rescue Knife This is a serrated blade with a safety tip. It's a tough knife that will be a trusty partner. View on Amazon →

Kindle Paperwhite A compact e-reader book with incredible battery life and a screen that works day or night. Break up down time with a book! These work incredibly well in low light situations, and do a great job of not disrupting your sleep cycle. Unlike reading on an iPad or phone, these don't throw off lots of blue light. They don't disrupt your sleep cycles, and it's the only e-reader that I can read at night with the lights off and cast a bright blue light on the rest of the room. View on Amazon →

Paramedic Work Boot Quick to put on with some great features! This is a super comfortable boot with great support and cushioning. The Neoprene collar fits snuggly and will keep out dust, dirt, and debris. These won't take a high shine, but at the same time, they've aged well. They don't scuff too easily, and so even with heavy use they still look good. You've got enough to worry about - now you'll never worry about your feet again. View on Amazon →

5.11 Tactical Responder High-Vis Parka This is a brilliant jacket with bright reflective trim that is sure to help keep you safe on scene. The jacket is waterproof with fully taped seems and a laminate taffeta that is effective against many blood borne pathogens. The pockets are more than amble, and the cuffs work great. This is a great piece of equipment. View on Amazon →

A Thousand Naked Strangers: A Paramedic's Wild Ride to the Edge and Back View on Amazon →

Ambulance Girl How I Saved Myself By Becoming an EMT View on Amazon →

Rescue 471 A Paramedic's Stories View on Amazon →

Paramedic On The Jobs, In The Headlines Paramedic Steffensen 24 years on the streets gives you his first hand accounts of calls that made the headlines. View on Amazon →

Trauma Junkie Memoirs of an Emergency Flight Nurse View on Amazon →

Improvised Medicine: Providing Care in Extreme Environments This is a creative and interesting book that is filled with techniques to use when traditional tools are simply not available or when you must provide care outside of your specialty. While the book may be intended more for the Hospital, there are many techniques and ideas that can work well for a paramedic. View on Amazon →

My Ambulance Education: Life and Death on the Streets of the City This books is a graphic portrayal of the life of an EMT. From dealing with a body that is frozen solid and trapped under a front porch to climbing into the burned-out wreck of a car to treat the seriously injured driver, Clark's stories are horrifying, poignant, touching and often filled with the dark humor that is so characteristic of the people who work under extreme stress. View on Amazon →