--- title: Three Serious Suction Machine Issues to Avoid description: You know the critical role suctioning plays in airway management. Here are three ways to avoid serious issues affecting your suction machine. image: https://blog.sscor.com/hubfs/Blog/rsz_gettyimages-483289413.jpg --- [![dark-header.jpg](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hub/212347/file-1107077240.jpg?width=940&name=file-1107077240.jpg "dark-header.jpg")](https://www.sscor.com/) ## **Thank you for visiting the SSCOR Blog.** Whether you're in a Hospital or EMS setting, this is the place for you. We'll share information on current industry news, tips, as well as the latest and greatest in SSCOR products. Our hope is that this blog is not only informative but a collaborative and open forum for you to share your thoughts on developing opportunities and challenges within your profession. Subscribe. Share your thoughts. Enjoy. -SSCOR Team   # [Three Serious Suction Machine Issues to Avoid](https://blog.sscor.com/three-serious-suction-machine-issues-to-avoid) Posted by [Sam D. Say](https://blog.sscor.com/author/sam-d-say) Feb 6, 2017 4:30:00 AM 2 min read - [![LinkedIn Social Icon](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/142915/file-2628248555-png/images/icons/linkedin-small.png) ](https://blog.sscor.com/three-serious-suction-machine-issues-to-avoid#) 0 - [![Facebook Social Icon](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/142915/file-2623658044-png/images/icons/fb-small.png) ](https://blog.sscor.com/three-serious-suction-machine-issues-to-avoid#) 0 ![Three Serious Suction Machine Issues to Avoid](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog/rsz_gettyimages-483289413.jpg?width=700&name=rsz_gettyimages-483289413.jpg "Three Serious Suction Machine Issues to Avoid") As a medical professional, you know the critical role suctioning plays in airway management. Whether you are a medic on a [rescue](https://www.sscor.com/EMS_suction_products.html), a flight nurse on a helicopter, or part of an [emergency room](https://www.sscor.com/hospital_products.html) staff, you’ve seen how effective suctioning can be for a patient in respiratory distress.   Nothing can take the place of effective suctioning. How else are you going to remove vomit, sputum, or blood from the airway? How are you going to visualize the cords without first clearing the path? Let’s face it: There’s no replacement for suction. It falls on you to ensure your suction machine is ready. But sometimes things are overlooked. The crew you are relieving had a grueling night of calls. The ER staff has worked three back-to-back codes. There are many reasons for slip-ups to occur. Ours is a demanding field, set at a demanding pace. So, here are three ways to avoid serious issues affecting your portable suction unit:   ## 1. The Need for Power A suction unit can’t run on dead batteries. It’s up to you to ensure the [batteries](https://blog.sscor.com/it-wont-turn-on-preventing-portable-suction-unit-failure) are fresh at the start of each shift or after each use. The main benefit of a portable suction unit is its portability. But that portability means it must rely on its own power source, so make sure that power source is up to the task. And replace old batteries as needed.   ## 2. Maintenance Is Key To maximize the benefits of your suction unit, you must [maintain it](https://blog.sscor.com/the-routine-maintenance-you-should-be-performing-on-your-suction-equipment). That means not only ensuring it has power, but that it is clean and well-stocked. Because secretions of any type pose serious infectious risks, the unit must be thoroughly decontaminated after each use. That means following the manufacturer’s guidelines for cleansing and ensuring all [disposable](https://www.sscor.com/disposables.html) parts are replaced. Be sure the unit is fully stocked at all times. Extra [catheters](https://www.sscor.com/disposables.html), in an array of sizes, are essential for meeting the needs of each respiratory emergency, so be sure you replace as needed. And use the right size for the job. A small tip will not meet the demands of clotted blood or vomit, so have larger catheters on hand for these situations.   ## 3. Suction with Care Not every airway is the same, so be careful when applying suction, especially in the case of elderly patients or the very young. [Geriatrics](https://blog.sscor.com/geriatric-airway-management-what-paramedics-must-know) typically will have fragile tissues and extensive dental hardware, so suction with care and precision. The same can be said of [pediatrics](https://blog.sscor.com/pediatric-airway-management-its-not-just-about-sizing-down). Their smaller mouths and noses require the same care and precision you apply to geriatrics, so use a smaller catheter and a suction unit that has [variable pressure controls](https://www.sscor.com/S-SCORT_VX2_Option_portable_ems_suction.html). Nothing can replace effective suctioning, so be sure to follow these recommendations to avoid any serious complications.   [![ultimate_guide_to_purchasing_aspirator](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/212347/e3e3529c-4d5a-4301-9c0f-92c47b999ccb.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/212347/e3e3529c-4d5a-4301-9c0f-92c47b999ccb) Topics: [Suction for EMS professionals](https://blog.sscor.com/topic/suction-for-ems-professionals) ![Author Photo](https://blog.sscor.com/hs-fs/hubfs/SDS2-648378-edited.jpg?width=70&name=SDS2-648378-edited.jpg) ## AboutSam D. Say Sam D. Say is owner and CEO of SSCOR, Inc., a medical device manufacturer specializing in emergency battery operated portable suction devices for the hospital and pre-hospital settings. Mr. Say has been involved in developing product for healthcare providers for over 35 years. His passions include contributing to the management of the patient airway and providing solutions that save lives in difficult conditions. 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