Portable medical suction is an indispensable part of every first responder’s toolkit. Yet research consistently suggests that operators may not know how to use suction devices properly. Your skills can grow rusty, especially if you work for an agency whose population does not routinely require portable medical suction.

Patients’ lives hang in the balance. Here are five things you need to know to ensure effective, safe suction each and every time.

Allergy season is upon us, and identifying the differences between normal, seasonal allergies and serious respiratory issues is critical for maintaining respiratory health. That wheeze when you breathe or your itchy throat may just be allergies, but it could be something more serious, and it’s important to know what to look for when you start to notice symptoms.

Emergency preparedness plans frequently focus on natural disasters, mass violence, war, and everyday emergencies such as heart attacks and strokes. Yet tooth decay is one of the most common diseases worldwide. Not only is tooth decay painful, but it can also lead to life-threatening complications, including endocarditis and brain infection. Mobile dentistry plays a key role in preventing and managing dental emergencies.

The elderly patient began vomiting blood early that morning. You arrive on the scene and are rushed inside by the woman’s daughter, who quickly fills you in on the patient’s history–late-stage esophageal cancer. The woman is sitting up in bed, alert and clearly frightened, with bright red blood staining her chin and chest. She is gasping for breath as you quickly set up your equipment, but when you turn on the portable suction unit, nothing happens. You exchange frantic glances with your partner and scramble for a Plan B. 

Spinal cord injuries (SCI) are incredibly damaging, and they can change the course of a person’s life forever. In the U.S. alone, every year, roughly 17,700 individuals acquire an SCI. When it comes to airway management of patients with SCI, there are many considerations providers must keep in mind related to the impact of SCI on airway function, and the connection between the airway, cervical column and spinal cord.

Emergency responders have a million thoughts racing through their heads when treating patients, especially when it comes to pediatrics. In the event of a pediatric airway blockage, the stakes are high, and emergency responders must think on their feet. The best way to protect children from dangerous scenarios is to educate yourself on the anatomy of the airway and to know when and how to effectively perform a pediatric airway assessment.

Preparedness is essential to trauma treatment, especially when you encounter catastrophic injuries in the field. Having the right supplies in your trauma kit allows you to care for patients and avoid needless treatment delays. 

This year, EMS Week runs from May 21-27, and it’s the perfect time to reflect onthe immense value of EMS providers in our society, and the ongoing challenges they face while addressing critical health needs and saving lives. The week also presents an opportunity to educate providers’ friends, families and community members about the profession, and key things they should know about the EMS providers in their lives.

In honor of EMS Week, we’ve put together a list of common provider challenges, safety tips and resources to promote ongoing awareness and education.

An obese, 72-year old male comes into the ER experiencing acute respiratory distress. He has a history of obstructive sleep apnea. The patient is suctioned and attempts to provide bag-mask ventilation are unsuccessful. His condition rapidly deteriorates. It becomes evident that intubation is needed, and noting the blue bracelet on the patient’s wrist reading “Difficult to Intubate”, the ER doctor pages the airway response team stat…

Depending on the emergency and treatment circumstance, it can often be helpful to have patients’ family members present to answer questions about a patient’s background or medical history, but it can also be overwhelming and add even more stress for the providers and patients involved.