Aspiration pneumonia is a life-threatening complication resulting from the inhalation of airway contaminants and pathogen overgrowth. Multiple substances are directly toxic to the lungs or can stimulate an inflammatory response when aspirated – gastric acid from vomiting is the most common aspirated substance. 

While it may seem like a minor consideration to some, EMS providers know that patient positioning plays a crucial role in the quality, safety and effectiveness of medical treatment. An article from the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation states that patient positioning is 90% of the airway management battle.

Spinal cord injuries are devastating events. In the U.S., most are the result of automobile collisions, but falls, penetrating injuries, and blunt trauma can also cause injury to the spinal cord, leading to a respiratory emergency. It is estimated that there are more than 18,000 spinal cord injuries each year in the U.S. When the injuries involve the cervical vertebrae, specifically the midsection (C3 through C5), they can disrupt the phrenic nerve, which controls the movement of the diaphragm, rendering the patient unable to breathe on their own.

Each year, the number of active shooter incidents seems to climb. Hardly a week goes by without a broadcast reporting a gun-wielding assailant leaving behind a trail of victims. In 2023 alone, the Federal Bureau of Investigation designated 48 active shooter incidents. There were 50 in 2022.

A medical aspirator that fails to function does serious harm. Even if the device doesn’t harm patients, it delays treatment, which increases morbidity. Additionally, inadequate suction is a major factor in aspiration and hypoxia. 

SSCOR’s free medical aspirator test kit offers a cost-effective and efficient way to end the problem of non-functioning suction devices.

Over the years, anesthesia has become increasingly common in most surgical procedures — even minor ones. In fact,  approximately 40 million surgical procedures utilize an anesthetic each year. Some procedures, such as dental extractions and implants, require anesthesia, regardless of the patient’s preference. 

In a perfect world, a patient will be sedated before intubation, but as emergency care providers know, conditions are not often optimal and other approaches are necessary.

As you approach your patient, you hear him snoring and notice the familiar sound of gurgling coming from his mouth. You immediately know you will be working to manage his airway—all within seconds of looking at, listening to, speaking with, and touching the patient. Remember: The first few seconds when you approach your patient will likely give you the most clinical information about your patient’s condition, bombarding you with information rapidly, sometimes instantaneously.

Neurological emergencies come in many forms, many of them life-threatening. Any pathological process or traumatic injury that impacts the patient's neurological system can have devastating consequences: paralysis, brain damage, or even death. As an emergency provider, you must be prepared to support your patient's vital functions. This includes ensuring adequate circulation—by maintaining blood pressure and pulse—along with oxygenation, through oxygen therapy, intubation, and, most importantly, suction.

Modern, fully equipped ambulances with well-trained paramedics are marvels, providing services that save lives and maintain seriously injured or ailing patients’ status before they reach an appropriate medical facility. But that goal is only achieved when technicians aboard the ambulance practice safe procedures.