When you think back to what EMS equipment used to be like, you can appreciate the vast changes that have taken place. Oxygen bottles were larger, heavier, and a burden to drag on scene. Monitors were clunky and not nearly as sophisticated. And stretchers required back-breaking labor to lift and haul.

One of the most critical scenarios you will encounter as a paramedic is a patient in respiratory arrest. Whether the arrest is due to a drug overdose, an obstruction preventing a child from moving air, or a gunshot wound to the base of the skull that has knocked out the respiratory centers of the brain, treating respiratory arrest requires preparation, quick action, and the proper equipment. It requires a plan.

The question of whether or not your emergency unit is ready for respiratory emergencies may seem redundant. Of course you are, right? You have the proper certifications and training, a truck laden with fancy equipment, and a brain bursting with knowledge and experience. What else is there, you ask?

When you think about treating patients with head injuries, using an emergency suction pump may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Certainly, airway is your main priority, but we tend to focus more on level of consciousness, spinal immobilization, and assessing for additional trauma than we do on portable suction.

Your portable suction device is a vital piece of equipment, yet you may give it little thought on a shift-by-shift basis. We take for granted the critical role it plays in airway patency, assuming there is no need for preplanning or strategizing. But there are some simple steps you can take to ensure your suction unit remains operational, and part of the life-saving lineup you rely on each shift. Let’s discuss some of the strategies employed when deciding what to include with your portable suction device.

If you serve in an administrative position within your department, you have a lot on your plate. Certifications must be kept up, training requirements must be met, and your personnel must be prepared to respond to an ever-changing EMS landscape, from biological attacks to mass-casualty incidents.