As we have witnessed through recent natural disasters, hospitals are not immune to power loss. Even a brief disruption in power can affect many critical systems within the hospital. Medical vacuum is one example.

Most hospitals rely on a central source for their vacuum. Generally, a pump, or pumps, in the basement creates the vacuum that is delivered throughout the hospital through a series of pipes. Without electricity, the pump cannot function, and the vacuum is lost. Let’s review how this impacts normal hospital function and ways to mitigate this issue.

 While tachycardia can be a sign of respiratory distress, it also can be a complication of interventions to treat respiratory distress, including suctioning. First responders and medical providers must have a clear understanding of the link between tachycardia and suctioning so that they can reduce the risk of patient injuries and improve both long- and short-term outcomes.  

You are sitting at the nurse’s station, catching up on some charting at the end of your shift. It has been a smooth 12-hours; all of your patients have been cooperative, and everything has gone as planned. Suddenly, the daughter of one of your patients comes running out of the room, yelling that her mother just lost consciousness and doesn’t appear to be breathing. You grab the crash cart and call a Code Blue. 

 Endotracheal intubation offers life-saving relief when an airway obstruction endangers a patient’s life. Yet many first responders have little experience with endotracheal intubation, and some actively avoid training opportunities because they feel overwhelmed and intimidated by the process. Endotracheal intubation is a basic skill that every first responder must master. 

 You’re responding to the scene of a snowboarding accident, where a young woman in her mid-20s sustained a head injury following an attempted jump. While assessing her, you discover she is suffering aspiration due to vomitus, and you know that you must clear her airway and intubate immediately. However, you also know that the presence of potential obstructions in the airway may make intubation more difficult.  

 Although many first responders express reservations about airway suctioning, it is a potentially life-saving procedure that, when performed correctly, has a low risk of complications. With both cold and flu season and allergies causing year-round respiratory issues, it is always a great time for first responders to brush up on their airway management skills. Continuing education classes and regular drills can prepare you to manage even difficult airways. It’s equally important to be mindful of the main complications of suctioning. Awareness of these potential complications can guide your technique while encouraging your team to remain vigilant and diligent. 

 Trauma patients can be some of the most complex challenges you will encounter as a paramedic. Traumatic injury can take many forms, from penetration to blunt trauma to amputation. Assessing the trauma patient until you can turn them over to a trauma team. When trauma involves the trachea, your patient may be at serious risk. 

For every 100 Americans, about five made an emergency room visitto a community hospital in 2022. And this number doesn’t even include millions of hospital inpatient stays or outpatient procedures, further emphasizing the importance and challenge of providing quality care every time someone walks in or is wheeled in the door.