Training is an essential part of your job. With the demands of your work schedule, balancing your time with your family, and your weekly obligations, you may find yourself struggling to find the motivation to put in extra time for training. But even the most skilled practitioners need to train—and train often—in order to best serve their patients when airway emergencies occur.

The ABCs of patient care begin with the airway. Is your patient’s airway patent? Can your patient maintain his or her own airway? Are there any obstructions or contaminants obstructing the airway? Questions like these are likely second nature to you, and you probably don’t even realize you are asking them when caring for your patients.

There is perhaps nothing more terrifying to new parents than breathing problems in an infant. Particularly among newborns, respiratory distress is a common and potentially life-threatening symptom. Key differences in the airways of infants and children make them more susceptible to certain respiratory structures. A keen understanding of upper airway anatomy can help you quickly and safely treat infants in respiratory distress.

Airway management is a critical component of every first responder’s job. From clearing the airway of secretions to managing complex aspiration cases and assessing causes of respiratory distress, the right equipment is key.

Dr. James DuCanto wants to make one thing clear: he didn’t know what the implications would be when he started the project that would lead to the development of the SALAD technique. The project originally came about as the result of a question, curiosity, and a desire to make a difference. Seeing the rate of first pass failure in intubation among medical professionals, Dr. DuCanto asked himself, “How can I help them do a better job?”

When patients die during or after an aspiration event, it’s often because of the exposure to airway contaminants, not hypoxia. The risk of death increases with the volume of fluid inhaled. This is why diligent, intelligent suction can prove life-saving, especially in someone with limited mobility who is actively aspirating or vomiting. The right suction device quickly clears airway obstructions with a high rate of flow and powerful suction.

Proper airway management in emergency medical settings can be life-saving and may prevent other complications, such as hypoxic brain injuries. Although most paramedics intuitively understand this, the stress of a high stakes emergency can make it difficult to provide skillful, quality care. Complications are common but largely preventable. Here is your quick-start guide to advanced airway management in 2018.

As a paramedic or EMT, your first responsibility in patient care is to secure a patent airway. Whether you are placing an EOA to elevate the tongue of an overdosed patient, suctioning the oropharynx of a trauma code, or inserting an endotracheal tube for a patient who has stopped breathing, a thorough understanding of the structures that make up the respiratory tract is a must. Here is a brief review of airway anatomy to ensure you're ready for the next respiratory emergency.