Hurricane Ian brought widespread damage to the southeast U.S. and was the deadliest storm to strike Florida since 1935, causing at least 137 fatalities in its path across the Caribbean and the East Coast.

September is National Preparedness Month, a time to remember and spread awareness about the need for robust preparation in the event of a disaster or emergency. This applies to all, from families to businesses — and of course, health care organizations and providers.

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.

Suctioning a patient can maintain a patent airway, remove life-threatening airway obstructions, and prevent aspiration in vomiting or bleeding patients. But airway suctioning is not without risks, including changes in blood pressure. First responders must understand the link between suctioning and blood pressure to prevent both hypotensive and hypertensive states. 

Mold can present dangers for individuals in their homes, office spaces and many other indoor and outdoor environments. Notably, as a fungal growth that forms on damp and decaying organic matter and grows during all seasons of the year, mold can cause a range of respiratory emergencies if its spores are inhaled. 

Shifts for paramedics and emergency medical technicians can last as long as 24 hours. It’s no surprise that a day-long shift can include a lot of activity, especially in communities with limited EMS services or larger populations.