The call came in the moment you placed your gear on the truck—a high-speed crash at that same dangerous intersection. Police on the scene are reporting they have three patients, one of whom is in cardiac arrest. CPR is being administered by bystanders. You hit your siren and respond.
You pull up to a chaotic scene. You and your partner head for the arrest while the backup units tend to the other victims. Your victim has massive facial injuries—the result of an unrestrained driver struck head-on.
The bystanders are doing their best, using a pocket mask, but the patient's airway is flooded with blood. You break out your portable suction unit, crank it on, and realize the catheter and tubing are missing. Whoever used it last forgot to resupply it, and now you're left with a useless unit. You sprint back to your truck as the bystanders stare in frustration.
Proper portable suction machine maintenance is a critical link in your chain of care. Nothing can replace your suction unit, so it had better be ready when needed. So, let's review some fundamental components of proper care and maintenance.
Another critical step in suction machine maintenance is keeping the unit free of dangerous pathogens. This not only protects your patients but protects you and your coworkers. Suction units can easily become vectors. Here's how:
To prevent your portable suction machine from serving as a vector, here are some guidelines to follow:
Proper portable suction machine maintenance is critical to the success of your treatment. The need for suction can arise on any call, so be sure your unit is ready and able to fulfill its vital role.
Portable suction saves lives, so it has to be reliable. For assistance buying the right emergency equipment, download our free guide, The Ultimate Guide to Purchasing a Portable Emergency Suction Device.
Editor's Note: This blog was originally published in June, 2017. It has been re-published with additional up to date content.