If you could design your own airway bag, what would you put in it?
The longer we work in the field, the more we develop habits and preferences that find their way into our daily routines. You carry certain tools on your belt or in your pouch; you set up for an IV or an intubation using a set pattern; and you place everything in a specific spot so that you can grab it in a rush.
Habits, especially good habits, breed muscle memory, which allows us to perform tasks as if they were second nature. It's the same reason we use a head-to-toe format when performing a physical assessment: so that we get in a routine of working our way down the body systematically, thereby reducing the possibility of skipping something significant.
Imagine stocking your ideal airway bag. You would need the essentials, of course, so let's begin with them.
Some agencies are turning to intubation kits, which come with all the essentials. Others stock them individually. Either way, your supplies should include:
These are the basics for oxygen therapy and securing the airway.
One of your most essential pieces of equipment and an excellent addition to your airway bag, is your emergency respiratory device, a.k.a. your portable suction unit.
Many portable suction units are too large to fit neatly in an airway bag. But that doesn't mean the ideal unit doesn't exist. Today's suction units are smaller, more lightweight, and more portable than those of the past, making them the perfect addition to your airway bag.
Imagine ALWAYS having a portable suction unit on EVERY call! Never being caught without suction. Amazing, right? No more toting the suction unit with you on every potential respiratory emergency. These miniaturized units can slip easily into the airway, trauma, or tactical medicine bag.
And speaking of tactical medicine ... an increasing number of departments are utilizing paramedics in law enforcement scenarios. Paramedics are being cross-trained to serve as part of emergency response teams, responding to barricaded gunmen, hostage incidents, and a range of emergencies where law enforcement and rescue work side by side. In these situations, your equipment must be contained, and your bags limited. Having a small, tactical portable suction unit is ideal for these scenarios.
If you have the luxury of adding an emergency respiratory device to your airway bag, be sure to include it in your daily checkout. Here are some reminders:
There are many critical components to your airway bag, but adding a small, lightweight emergency respiratory device is a great way of ensuring you are always prepared for that critical suction scenario.
Editor's Note: This blog was originally published in January 2018. It has been re-published with additional up to date content.