Endotracheal suctioning can reduce morbidity and mortality. But like all medical procedures, it carries a risk of complications, particularly when treating vulnerable patients or in the hands of inexperienced providers.  

 The patient has suffered a gunshot wound to the chest, and his blood pressure is dangerously low. You’ve covered the entry wound to prevent a sucking wound, but the patient is exhaling copious bloody froth. You successfully intubate the patient and are bagging, with good chest rise, but the bloody froth continues to interfere with air exchange. It’s time to suction the tube.  

 Every patient is unique, and expert airway management demands a critical, creative, adaptive approach. However, first responders should follow established protocols and guidelines to get the best results. A simple algorithm can help guide decision-making in airway management while still allowing room for flexible problem-solving. Follow these guidelines to speed up treatment and reduce errors if you encounter a difficult airway: 

 Those of us in the medical profession know how important quality equipment is to overall patient care. We are only as good as our equipment; if it doesn't function well, it's hard for us to do our best.  

When faced with the challenge of transporting someone in respiratory distress, emergency responders should be able to identify the symptoms and remain prepared to spring into action with the right procedures and equipment. 

Many unexpected symptoms can stem from common traumas and accidents, and individuals often suffer significant airway damage from traumatic events. Around the world, injuries such as car accidents, gunshot wounds, and concussions account for more than 3 million non-fatal injuries annually. These common trauma scenarios can happen to anyone. 

By the beginning of 2026, predictions suggest that Canada may face another intense wildfire season, with expectations that it could rank among the hottest years ever recorded. This comes on the heels of a catastrophic 2025 season, which was the second most severe in history, marked by widespread evacuations and large-scale, unmanageable fires. These wildfires have an impact on air quality and the environment in the northeastern U.S. and beyond.

Respiratory muscle weakness is a common disorder often associated with weakened coughing, breathing and other airway functions, and providers and patients must know how to identify symptoms of this condition to ensure the healthiest breathing and respiratory functions possible. 

Health and safety can change in the blink of an eye, and one of the most severe ways that can happen is through having an allergic reaction and experiencing anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is caused by the over-release of histamines, which force a person’s body to go into shock.

There is a wide spectrum of reactions that one can have during anaphylaxis, ranging from mild to life-threatening. Patients and providers must know what to look for to identify allergic reactions and anaphylaxis and remain proactive in seeking treatment.

You are called to a residence in the middle of the night. A frantic father meets you at the door and ushers you upstairs to his son’s room, where you find a four-year-old boy perched anxiously on the side of his bed. He is braced in a tripod position, his small arms rigidly fixed by his side as he leans forward, drooling into a puddle on the floor. The father noticed a fever last night when he put the boy to bed but is astounded by the child’s rapid deterioration.