You are about to head out on a call for a 65-year-old man who is reported to be suffering from sudden respiratory distress. Few details are known about this man’s medical history, so you aren’t entirely sure what you are about to encounter. You grab your First In bag, knowing that your airway management tools mean you’re well–prepared for any airway emergency. 

 It’s a weekend night, and you're on your way to the home of a married couple. The husband reported that his wife fainted while they were making dinner, adding that he has a dull headache and feels weak. Based on these symptoms, you suspect the husband and wife may have carbon monoxide poisoning, so you’ll have to act quickly, and the patients’ airways may require treatment. 

 From 2014 to 2023, fire deaths increased 27%. Most die not from burns but from oxygen deprivation caused by smoke inhalation. Immediate survivors of the blaze are not out of the woods. The consequences of smoke inhalation can show up hours or even days later. Healthy people can die even when they seem able to breathe. When treating smoke inhalation, here’s what not to do, and what you must do instead. 

Airway obstructions are a common emergency, especially among pediatric and geriatric patients. Choking is a common hazard and a prominent cause of childhood death and injury among children under age four, claiming at least one child’s life every few days. In the case of geriatric patients, the risk of airway obstructions due to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, and airway injuries greatly increases with age. The airway also becomes more fragile as a person gets older, making it more difficult to treat airway issues. Several techniques can open an obstructed airway, but the right technique depends on the reason for the obstruction. 

 Sooner or later, every first responder encounters a difficult airway. Training for these scenarios is critical for improving patient care and reducing first responder frustration and burnout. There’s no substitute for lived experience, critical feedback from experienced providers, and drills that mimic real-world situations. And keeping these five tips in mind can help you more effectively treat difficult airways. 

As an emergency medical professional, you rely on sophisticated tools to treat your patients. From cardiac monitors that defibrillate and cardiovert to drugs that reverse anaphylaxis and pulmonary edema, you are responsible not only for the benefits but also the dangers associated with such therapies. Even the simplest treatment can pose serious harm when not applied properly. A great example is your portable suction machine. Here, we’ll discuss three dangerous mistakes to avoid when applying portable suction in the field.

Allergies, a minor cold, and the flu can all cause airway discomfort. Complications from these usually minor conditions can be dangerous, especially in vulnerable people such as the elderly and children. Also, serious conditions such as aspiration, partial obstructions, pneumonia, and other disorders may also trigger airway discomfort. As a first responder, it’s important to know when airway discomfort is a sign of a serious problem or just a passing symptom.