Background: An effective ambulance is a vital requirement for providing an emergency medical service. Wellequipped ambulances with trained paramedics can save many lives during the golden hours of trauma care. The objective was to document the availability and utilization of basic life support equipment in the ambulances and to assess knowledge on first aid among the drivers. Methods:Descriptive design was used. Total of 109 ambulances linked to B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences were enrolled using purposive sampling method. Self-constructed observation checklist and semi structured interview schedule was used for data collection.Results: More than half of the respondents had less than five years of experience and were not trained in first aid. About two-third of the respondents had adequate knowledge on first aid. About 90% of the ambulance had oxygen cylinder and adult oxygen mask which was 'usually' used equipment. More than half of ambulance had equipment less than 23% as compared to that of national guidelines. There was significant association of knowledge with the experience (p = 0.004) and training (p = 0.001). Availability of equipment was associated with training received (p = 0.007),organization (p= 0.032)and district (p = 0.023) in which the ambulance is registered. Conclusions:The study concludes that maximum ambulance linked to BPKIHS, Nepal did not have even one fourth of the equipment for basic life support. Equipment usually used was oxygen cylinder and oxygen mask. Majority of driver had adequate knowledge on first aid and it was associated with training and experience.

Introduction: The nutritional status of an individual is often the result of many inter-related factors. It is a major public health problem in most of the developing countries and occurs prominently among under-five children. Nepal is also the one of the developing country where the prevalence of malnutrition is high.  Objective: This study aimedtoassess the nutritional status and its associated factors among under-five children.  Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Bhimtar Village Development Committee of Sindhupalchowk.Study conducted in Jan 27 2017 to Feb 8 2017 with the sample 115, self-constructed semi-structured interview schedule was used for data collection and nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric measurements. Descriptive (Frequency, Percentage, Mean, Standard Deviation) and inferential statistic (chi-square test) were used for data analysis.  Results: Among total children 47% were stunted, 30.4% were underweight and 11.3% were wasted. Age of child, frequency of antenatal visit and age of mother at child birth had significant association with nutritional status of children. Conclusion: The study concludes that significant proportion of under-five children in Sindhupalchowk district were malnourished with stunting and wasting being pre-dominant form of malnutrition. Occurrence of malnutrition was slightly higher among male compared to female children. Child’s age, mother’s age during childbirth and completion of atleast four antenatal visits during pregnancy were found to be significantly associated with child’s nutritional status.