There are many factors to consider when performing an airway assessment, and some of those factors can present obstacles for all patients and providers involved. Trauma patients require extra care and caution when receiving airway assessments, and substantial research has been done on unique risks for these patients and things providers must keep in mind when treating them.

Most of us know what it’s like to be enjoying a nice meal when suddenly, you take too large of a bite and your food goes down the wrong pipe, causing some coughing and possible throat irritation. If you’re lucky, the coughing and discomfort won’t last long, but sometimes, these incidents result in choking, which often calls for more serious medical attention. 

Advanced airway management goes beyond simple techniques you might learn in a single class. Advanced airway techniques fall into three broad categories, each with various techniques and skills a practitioner must master. 

You’re responding to a choking involving an obstruction. As you know, obstructions can be mild, making breathing difficult or painful, or they can be urgent and life-threatening, as is the case with a choking child.

As if the challenges first responders and health care providers face on a daily basis weren’t already enough, a new crisis has emerged in the form of an old foe – opioids. Overdose deaths in 2022 amounted to nearly 108,000, 10 times the number in 1999. Of these overdose deaths, 76% were from opioid use.

As a paramedic, you are frequently called upon to treat respiratory emergencies that come in many forms, from asthmatics to those with emphysema to pediatrics suffering from obstructions. No matter the type of call, emergencies involving the respiratory system are some of the most critical you will handle. Recognizing the true respiratory emergency is the first step in treating it. It all starts with your assessment.

Pregnant patients exhibit various unique characteristics that first responders must account for during treatment.

A significant challenge responders encounter when treating pregnant women is navigating difficult airway anatomy and possible risks during airway management. The rate of failed intubation in pregnant patients is four to eight times higher than in nonpregnant patients, and this is largely due to anatomical changes, hormone production, and aspiration risks that occur during pregnancy.

About one in eight non-traumatic emergency visits were due to respiratory distress. Among patients with respiratory health issues or emergent trauma, the figure may have been even higher. Assessing respiratory status is a core component of emergency and trauma care, as well as medical intake. Even when respiratory distress is not the presenting issue, it may be a complicating factor.

Whether you’re performing routine suctioning during surgical procedures, suctioning a patient on a ventilator, or performing life-saving procedures to prevent or reduce aspiration, diligent suction canister management is critical to proper patient care. Particularly in the face of bird flu and other infectious diseases, your agency must work proactively to reduce the risk of transmitting disease via equipment such as suction machines. Here are five things you need to know about suction canister management.