Yuma firefighters get medical management vending machines to stay prepared for medical emergencies

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - There's a vending machine for firefighters, but it's not for sodas or snacks. It's for items that help save lives.

The UCapIt machines work like vending machines but for medical supplies and some pharmaceuticals.

"They allow us to restock medications faster," said Yuma Fire Department Captain David Padilla Jr.

In the past, Padilla says firefighters would have to spend about 45 minutes traveling to a hospital pharmacy to restock. Now, they can restock quickly right at the station.

Instead of having to manually count supplies like in the past, their new operative IQ program also helps them digitally keep track of inventory and more efficiently restock and purchase.

"Now the guys show up, they have a scanner in their hand. It immediately downloads with RFID all of the information right to it, and then it sends that information up to our inventory specialist," Padilla shared.

Everything is tracked and requires a code, fingerprint access, and one to two-person authentication depending on the item.

"Both members will have to place their fingerprints on the system, and then the system will dispense whatever's needed. Everything is tracked and requires authentication. All of that is tracked and all of that information once dispensed is sent to the EMS division, so they know immediately when something has been dispensed and what we've tracked out of it, and they can track each item out of there," said Padilla.

The vending machines are located at every fire station in the city.

"And so overwhelmingly, it's been a positive for the fire department and again for the budgets in the EMS division. They're able to now very specifically order what they need, we're reducing waste as a whole, and we're being great stewards of our taxpayer dollars," said Padilla.