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.

Airway management is a priority for both nurses and first responders. A critical component of this is effective airway clearance techniques to manage oropharyngeal secretions. Whether in the field or a hospital, the how and when of oral suctioning must be mastered to ensure the patient's patent airway.

Portable suction can be a quick emergency intervention, a long-term treatment for patients under anesthesia, or a way to maintain safety and hygiene for people on ventilators.

In the field of EMS, maintenance is critical. Our trucks must be kept in good working order, our drugs must be up to date, and even our knowledge base must be tweaked regularly to ensure we keep up with new trends in the field and keep our skills sharp.

We all know the key to a thorough patient assessment is to approach it systematically so that we don’t become distracted (by that bleeding scalp wound) or skip steps that may yield valuable information (like listening to breath sounds). There’s a reason we are all taught “head-to-toe” surveys: so that we work our way through essential assessment points, avoiding a haphazard exam where key signs are missed.

You are called to the nursing home to treat a “patient choking.” Upon arrival, you are rushed to the room of an elderly man who has suffered three previous strokes, resulting in limited mobility and significant speech impairment. Fortunately, the patient is no longer choking. Swift action on the part of the staff prevented an airway obstruction, and the patient is now resting comfortably. But is he truly out of danger? 

EMTs deal with emergencies every day, so it’s easy to feel like emergency preparedness is baked into the job – and that can lead to complacency.

Foreseeable disasters can come in all shapes and sizes, from a power failure that affects only your facility to an earthquake that sends hundreds of casualties to your emergency department.

A growing group of people are passionate about airway management and minimizing the risks of aspiration and its subsequent effects. Dr. James DuCanto identified an improved technique called suction-assisted laryngoscopy and airway decontamination (SALAD).

Training is an essential part of your job. With the demands of your work schedule, spending time with your family, and your daily obligations, you may find yourself struggling to find the motivation to put in extra time for training. But even the most skilled practitioners need to train—and train often—to best serve their patients when airway emergencies occur.