Operating a suction machine demands skill and precision. Yet many nurses only perform suctioning at times of high stress and chaos, such as in a tactical medical scenario or on a patient who has aspirated. Suction errors are preventable, but can also be catastrophic. According to research published in 2016, medical error is the third leading cause of death in the United States.

As every paramedic quickly learns, paramedic training doesn’t end with graduation from paramedic school. The realities of high stakes emergencies demand more attention, thought, and flexibility than the theoretical challenges presented in school. But on-the-job experience is not enough. Continuing education allows you to master new skills, remain abreast of current research, and practice skills you use only infrequently at work.

Pumpkin patches are open, mums are on display on porches across the nation, and kids everywhere are planning their Halloween costumes. Halloween is an exciting time. Not only does it give families a chance to binge on candy and make-believe; it also marks the start of the holiday season. Many kids already have well-developed holiday wish lists by the end of October.

Portable suction failure is a major contributor to patient morbidity when first responders otherwise follow correct protocol. A 2013 study published in Prehospital and Disaster Medicine assessed the rate of portable suction failure over two years in more than 9,500 portable suction units. Overall, 2.4 percent failed. This suggests that two in every hundred patients got inadequate care instead of potentially life-saving, prompt suction.

Dr. James DuCanto wants to make one thing clear: he didn’t know what the implications would be when he started the project that would lead to the development of the SALAD technique. The project originally came about as the result of a question, curiosity, and a desire to make a difference. Seeing the rate of first pass failure in intubation among medical professionals, Dr. DuCanto asked himself, “How can I help them do a better job?”

A school district in Ohio plans to make tactical trauma kits available in every classroom, beginning this fall. The kits are similar to those used on battlefields in Afghanistan and Iraq. It’s a decision that has some parents scratching their heads. After all, these are children, not soldiers. But injuries in school are rapidly increasing due to mass shootings and other tragic events. These tactical kits can and will save lives. Your agency may want to consider getting behind similar measures in your local school system. Having the right equipment can be a matter of life and death following a tragedy.

The weather may still be hot throughout most of the country, but walk into any grocery or home improvement store and you’ll see signs of fall: pumpkins, mums, apple cider, and straw bales. Cooler weather and the holiday season it brings will be here before you know it. Now is the time for emergency management agencies to begin preparing for holiday emergencies. Public outreach can save lives, so consider planning a public education seminar about common holiday emergencies before the temperature begins dropping.

Pulmonary aspiration presents a serious risk to the elderly and infirm, patients experiencing medical emergencies, intubated patients, and anyone undergoing medical or dental procedures. The right suction unit is the most powerful weapon in the fight against aspiration. Ideally, it can prevent aspiration altogether by maintaining a patent airway. Mortality and morbidity associated with pulmonary aspiration are high, with the most common consequence being aspiration pneumonia. One study suggested the 30-day mortality rate for aspiration pneumonia was 21 percent. Understanding this potentially lethal syndrome is key to preventing and treating it.