Sooner or later, every nursing home will face a major emergency. Nursing home emergencies exist along a continuum. Issues such as choking may affect only a single patient, whereas outbreaks of the flu and other infectious diseases can endanger the lives of every resident. In 2017, natural disasters affected 8 percent of the U.S. population—and nursing home residents are not exempt from these statistics. Any of these incidents can lead to additional health issues, such as infectious outbreaks and chronic respiratory issues, so it is important to implement a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan. 

With the advent of minimally invasive in-office procedures, patients are increasingly choosing sedation instead of general anesthesia. Sedation exists on a continuum, ranging from very mild sedation to deep sedation, but it is generally safer than anesthesia and requires a shorter recovery time. Patients may require sedation in some emergency medicine scenarios. 

Since 1955, 218 people have died under general anesthesia, including multiple children. In several cases, aspiration was a contributing factor or even the cause of death. This is a small mortality rate compared to the millions of dental procedures performed annually. But no death is an acceptable outcome in dentistry, and aspiration is almost always a preventable tragedy, or at least a treatable one. A few simple strategies can mitigate the risk and ensure safe patient outcomes. 

A medical suction pump is a key piece of equipment during oral surgery. The right suction pump improves patient outcomes, reduces the risk of complications, and can promptly intervene in the event of a serious dental emergency. Here are some key reasons dentists should invest in a quality medical suction machine. 

Virtually every medical office worker, dental care provider, hospital employee, or first responder must use medical suctioning. Suctioning can be an important emergency intervention as well as a key aspect of routine care. The type of suctioning a provider must use depends on many factors, including the health of the patient, the type of suctioning machine available, and the reason for suctioning. Understanding the various types of suctioning you might use can help you choose the right tools and ensure you and your team are always well-trained on the latest techniques. 

Massive health disasters are increasingly common. As climate change accelerates, so too will the rate at which people die or are injured because of climate-related natural disasters. In 2018, natural disasters claimed more than 10,000 lives worldwide. Infections and diseases such as HIV/AIDS, food and waterborne illnesses, and the flu can also trigger widespread public health catastrophes. Illnesses are increasingly intersecting with natural disasters to produce serious emergencies. Natural disasters displace people, cause crowded conditions, and increase the risk of poor sanitation, allowing disease to more rapidly spread. Public health nurses play a critical role in educating the public and providing support to those recovering from various disasters. 

Mortality estimates for aspiration pneumonia vary. At least 5 percent of people who are hospitalized for aspiration will die. Among those with other complications, such as emphysema, the mortality rate rises to 20 percent or higher. Among geriatric populations, mortality skyrockets. A 2013 study of elderly patients put 30-day mortality at 21 percent. First responders, doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers must always treat aspiration pneumonia as a medical emergency with a high mortality risk. Diligent airway management can prevent aspiration pneumonia in many emergent and surgical scenarios, and prompt emergency intervention can reduce aspirate volume in people actively aspirating.