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4 Common Respiratory Emergencies Among the Elderly

Posted by Sam D. Say

Sep 14, 2024 8:00:00 AM

 

Respiratory emergencies among the elderly are common. As an emergency responder, especially if you work in warmer climes – such as Florida and Arizona – where many people go to retire, you will frequently be called upon to administer life-saving treatments for those in respiratory distress.

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Topics: Emergency medical suction, Emergency Preparedness

Basic vs. Advanced Airway Management

Posted by Sam D. Say

Sep 12, 2024 8:00:00 AM

Both basic and advanced airway management can save lives. Neither is more important than the other, and neither is a “better” option. When basic airway management is the safest and most effective option, immediately escalating to advanced airway management can be immensely harmful.

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Topics: Airway management

6 Tips for Airway Management: Improving Your Suction Technique

Posted by Sam D. Say

Sep 7, 2024 8:00:00 AM

It’s astonishing how fast a 12-hour shift in the hospital can go. You find yourself in constant motion, carefully assessing each patient and making sure to complete all of your necessary duties before the next nurse comes on to relieve you.

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Topics: Airway management

7 Uses for Suction Catheters

Posted by Sam D. Say

Sep 5, 2024 8:00:00 AM

A suction catheter is one of the most versatile, useful pieces of medical equipment in your supply bag. Whether it’s preventing emergencies before they start or offering life-saving treatment when a person cannot effectively breathe on their own, the right suction catheter is critical to doing your job. Here are seven key uses for suction catheters.

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Topics: Suction Catheter

Failed intubation? These are the next steps

Posted by Sam D. Say

Aug 31, 2024 8:00:00 AM

 

You’re responding to the scene of a snowboarding accident, where a young woman in her mid-20s sustained a head injury following an attempted jump. While surveying her, you discover she is suffering aspiration due to vomitus, and you know that you must clear her airway and intubate immediately. However, you also know that the presence of potential obstructions in the airway may make intubation more difficult. 

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Topics: Intubation

Tracheostomy Secretions Management

Posted by Sam D. Say

Aug 29, 2024 8:00:00 AM

Tracheostomies are increasingly common, particularly in long-term skilled nursing facilities and intensive care units, which means all medical providers must master tracheostomy secretion management. Tracheostomy reduces cough strength, lowers subglottic pressure, and weakens sensations in the pharynx and larynx.

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Topics: Medical Suction

How to Properly Clean A Portable Suction Device

Posted by Sam D. Say

Aug 24, 2024 8:00:00 AM

 

Ask any emergency responder and they'll tell you the critical role portable suction plays in maintaining airway patency. No other tool can remove blood, vomit, or sputum from the airway, or allow you to visualize the cords before intubation.

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Topics: Medical Suction

What Is "Dry Drowning" and How Is It Treated?

Posted by Sam D. Say

Aug 22, 2024 8:00:00 AM

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.

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Topics: aspiration pneumonia

The 10 Airway Management Tools Every EMS Provider Must Have in the First-In Bag

Posted by Sam D. Say

Aug 17, 2024 8:00:00 AM

You are about to head out on a call for a 65-year-old man who is reported to be suffering from sudden respiratory distress. Few details are known about this man’s medical history, so you aren’t entirely sure what you are about to encounter. You grab your First In bag, knowing that your airway management tools mean you’re well–prepared for any airway emergency.

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Topics: Emergency medical suction, Airway management

What Care Is Needed After Intubation?

Posted by Sam D. Say

Aug 15, 2024 8:00:00 AM

Intubation forms a cornerstone of advanced airway management, giving patients oxygen in both emergencies and the surgical suite, in addition to providing long-term breathing support for critically ill patients. Patients will need both immediate and longer-term support following intubation, regardless of the reason for the procedure. Monitoring patients during intubation and providing appropriate follow-up care and support can improve outcomes as well as quality of life.

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Topics: Intubation