Whether you’re performing routine suctioning during surgical procedures, suctioning a patient on a ventilator, or performing life-saving procedures to prevent or reduce aspiration, diligent suction canister management is critical to proper patient care. Particularly as concerns about a global flu or coronavirus pandemic mount, your agency must work proactively to reduce the risk of transmitting contagious diseases via equipment such as suction machines. Here are five things you need to know about suction canister management. 

Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) accounts for 60 percent of healthcare-associated infection (HAI) deaths. According to 2015 research from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), VAP accounts for 32 percent of all healthcare-related pneumonia cases. People on ventilators are often medically fragile, battling serious respiratory illnesses or chronic medical conditions. So the death rate for this form of pneumonia is extraordinarily high—between 20 and 33 percent, according to most estimates. Healthcare providers can take a number of proactive steps to protect their patients from this potentially lethal infection. 

A terrible flu season, the looming specter of a coronavirus outbreak, and the daily realities of localized infections all highlight the need for rigorous infection control. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issues annual infection control guidelines to reduce the risk of spreading potentially dangerous or even lethal illnesses. Many of these guidelines are common sense, and echo the things you learned in childhood about washing your hands and covering your cough. A friendly reminder of these guidelines may encourage you and your team to redouble your infection prevention strategies, especially because doing so requires little additional effort. 

Sooner or later, almost every medical provider sees a patient who needs nasal suctioning. This mainstay of emergency medicine saves lives, shortens hospital stays, and reduces medical complications. If you work in EMS, you may suction patients daily. For other providers, suctioning is a rarity. No matter where you work, a basic familiarity with the procedures for nasal suctioning is critical to quality patient care. 

COVID-19, the novel coronavirus with apparent origins in Wuhan, China, has overtaken the world of emergency medicine. It’s so new that doctors can’t confidently assert much about it, except that it is highly contagious and potentially lethal. Its specific lethality, however, remains hotly contested—and difficult to prove, given low testing rates and the relatively high prevalence of asymptomatic carriers. You probably already know the basics. Here are five things you must understand to protect yourself and the people you serve. 

Car accidents are the leading cause of blunt chest trauma. More than 6 million car accidents occur each year in the United States, injuring at least 3 million drivers. Violence is also a common culprit, especially when guns are involved. First responders will inevitably encounter many forms of chest trauma. A comprehensive patient assessment can help you prioritize treatment goals and stabilize patients for transport. However, knowing the most common injuries associated with blunt chest trauma can expedite the assessment and improve treatment outcomes. 

Even minor wounds can be distressing, especially in patients with bleeding disorders or communicable diseases. Major wounds can be life-threatening, necessitating a prompt response that anticipates complications such as bradycardia and shock. Wound management is a cornerstone of good emergency medicine, and so careful planning and frequent preparation should be part of every team’s continuing education. 

Prehospital care is about much more than just stabilizing patients and moving them on to the next step. The decisions you make can have far-reaching implications for a patient’s life and well-being. This is why it’s so important to gather as much information as possible, and to act collaboratively with family members. Include them in the decision-making process as much as you can, and remember that the patient has final say over their treatment.