As if the challenges first responders and health care providers face on a daily basis weren’t already enough, a new crisis has emerged in the form of an old foe – opioids. Overdose deaths in 2022 amounted to nearly 108,000, 10 times the number in 1999. Of these overdose deaths, 76% were from opioid use.

As a paramedic, you are frequently called upon to treat respiratory emergencies that come in many forms, from asthmatics to those with emphysema to pediatrics suffering from obstructions. No matter the type of call, emergencies involving the respiratory system are some of the most critical you will handle. Recognizing the true respiratory emergency is the first step in treating it. It all starts with your assessment.

Pregnant patients exhibit various unique characteristics that first responders must account for during treatment.

A significant challenge responders encounter when treating pregnant women is navigating difficult airway anatomy and possible risks during airway management. The rate of failed intubation in pregnant patients is four to eight times higher than in nonpregnant patients, and this is largely due to anatomical changes, hormone production, and aspiration risks that occur during pregnancy.

About one in eight non-traumatic emergency visits were due to respiratory distress. Among patients with respiratory health issues or emergent trauma, the figure may have been even higher. Assessing respiratory status is a core component of emergency and trauma care, as well as medical intake. Even when respiratory distress is not the presenting issue, it may be a complicating factor.

Whether you’re performing routine suctioning during surgical procedures, suctioning a patient on a ventilator, or performing life-saving procedures to prevent or reduce aspiration, diligent suction canister management is critical to proper patient care. Particularly in the face of bird flu and other infectious diseases, your agency must work proactively to reduce the risk of transmitting disease via equipment such as suction machines. Here are five things you need to know about suction canister management.

Upper airway obstructions affect the trachea, pharynx, or larynx. While partial obstructions can be painful, complete obstructions can be life-threatening. Without treatment, they can quickly prove fatal.

Many medical situations require emergency suction. And when you have a patient with an obstructed airway, be it from sputum, blood, vomitus, or tissue, you had better have the suction handy, for there is no other way to return the airway to patency.

We all know the important role suctioning plays in airway management. Imagine treating a respiratory, trauma, or cardiac arrest patient without the aid of suction. Impossible, right? Effective nasotracheal suctioning can mean the difference between a patent and a non-patent airway. It can also mean the difference between life and death for your patient. 

When transporting a critically ill patient, it’s easy to focus only on the medical emergency. But ambulance crashes are common – more than 6,500 ambulance crashes occur each year, claiming an average of 33 lives annually. Ambulance safety depends on taking proactive steps to mitigate risk in the event of a crash.