As a paramedic, you know the most critical task you are called on to perform is managing the airway. Whether your patient is an asthmatic, struggling for breath; a pediatric suffering a partial blockage due to an inhaled object; or an unconscious trauma victim with a blood-clogged airway, the decisions you make and the actions you take will determine whether your patient lives or dies.
So, let’s briefly discuss three tips you can follow for mastering airway management and ventilation in patients with tenuous airways.
One of the most effective ways to perform at your peak is to never stop learning. Learning new skills and perfecting known techniques are no longer the only arenas for expanding your knowledge base. Today’s continuing education comes in many forms.
Here are just a few examples:
Once you’ve pushed forward with continuing education, it’s time to put that knowledge to use. And when it comes to airway management, it all begins with assessment.
Remember these key factors when assessing a tenuous airway:
A thorough assessment will allow you to gauge the level of respiratory insufficiency your patient is experiencing, which leads to our final tip: having the right equipment on hand to treat the patient.
Despite a broad range of knowledge and a thorough assessment, you will be unable to treat your patient if you don’t have the proper tools available. They include:
These items can be stowed in an airway bag or in a well-provisioned trauma bag. Wherever they are kept, be sure they accompany you to each and every call. You never know when you’ll be faced with a difficult airway, so be sure you’re prepared for any respiratory emergency.