The start of the new year provides a perfect opportunity for reflection. What are your goals for the coming months? Is there a professional milestone you hope to achieve? A degree you plan to complete? Whether you are an EMS responder, a flight medic or nurse, or a hospital-based caregiver, you work in an environment that is ever-changing. And you must be willing to stay up to date: through continuing education, learning new skills, and keeping up on the latest technical breakthroughs in the dynamic field of medicine.
So, now would be the ideal time to consider the lifesaving equipment you rely on every day. And no piece of equipment is more vital than your portable suction unit.
Like much of our equipment, suction units have come a long way. If you’ve been in healthcare for a while, I’m sure you can remember back to when cardiac monitors weighed 10 pounds, our equipment bags were bulky tackle boxes, and stretchers were back-breaking monstrosities that depended solely on human strength. We’ve come a long way.
Now, our monitors are small and lightweight; the tackle boxes have been replaced by expandable, weather-resistant materials; and our stretchers are outfitted with hydraulic lifts. It’s a brave new world in EMS, and the rapid improvements in technology are apparent when we consider how far our portable suction units have come.
Today’s portable suction units are remarkable pieces of machinery. They combine state-of-the-art technology with durable, lightweight frames, providing portability, functionality, and reliability in tough, compact units that can stand up to just about any environment in which they are placed.
Of course, not all suction units are created equal. Like any industry, there are leaders, and there are followers. The leaders provide quality craftsmanship, ease of use, and a variety of options, along with a proven reputation for reliability and high standards.
So, take a look at your current suction unit. Is it lightweight? Is it powerful, durable, and functional? Does it provide alternative power sources, a range of tips to meet any challenge, and ease of use, even under the most difficult of circumstances?
If you answered “no” to any of these questions, perhaps it’s time to replace your current unit. Why wait for that critical moment, when you’re faced with a blocked airway or an uncontrollable bleed? Now is the time to get rid of that old, outdated portable suction unit so that you can begin the year with confidence, knowing you are ready for any airway emergency that comes your way.