In 1907, otolaryngologist Sidney Yankauer revolutionized the world of medical suction with his eponymous Yankauer suction catheter. Dr. Yankauer worked at the outpatient surgery department in Mount Sinai hospital and while there, this unassuming ENT specialist invented numerous pieces of medical equipment. Dr. Yankauer is hailed as a medical genius and admired for his prolific publishing output.

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.

Respiratory assessment is a core component of every EMS professional’s job. Your experience has likely already taught you that factors such as age, exertion, and emotional state can affect a respiratory assessment. You may also realize that the respiratory assessment that neatly tracks a textbook is a rare case indeed. Excellent respiratory assessments require a commitment to comprehensive care and a willingness to adapt based on new information and experiences. Here are five critical components of a skillful respiratory assessment.

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.

In the popular Showtime series The Affair, a lead character is haunted by the dry drowning death of her young son. Interest in so-called dry drowning has accelerated in recent years, thanks in part to a handful of high-profile cases and fictionalized accounts. While the phenomenon of dry drowning is real, the term is a colloquialism--not a medical diagnosis.

Pulmonary aspiration is a common medical emergency, especially in patients with endotracheal tubes or other aspiration risk factors. One study found an aspiration rate of 3.5 percent of intubated patients. A study of hospitalized patients suggests an even higher prevalence rate and points to the role of swallowing disorders in many aspiration cases.

The first chill of autumn is already in the air in many parts of the country, and though warmer regions still see tomato blossoms and gardenias, this last flush of summer will soon give way to cooler weather. The cold presents unique challenges to first responders. Now is the time to take stock of your equipment and winterize your first responder kit. Here are five steps to take now.

When transporting a critically ill patient, it’s easy to focus only on the medical emergency. But ambulance crashes are common; more than 6,500 ambulance crashes occur each year, claiming an average of 33 lives annually. The vehicle fatality rate of first responders is almost 5 times the national average. Ambulance safety depends on taking proactive steps to mitigate risk in the event of a crash.