Predicting difficult airways is key to successful intubation, and can minimize psychological and physical trauma to patients. Patients with difficult airways face higher morbidity and mortality rates because intubation may be delayed or even impossible. A simple mnemonic device can help you quickly assess a patient’s airway and respond appropriately. 

A number of things, including allergies, a minor cold, and the flu can all cause airway discomfort. And complications from these usually minor conditions can be dangerous, especially in vulnerable people such as elders and children. Also, serious conditions such as aspiration, partial obstructions, pneumonia, and other disorders may also trigger airway discomfort. As a first responder, it’s important to know when airway discomfort is a sign of a serious problem, or just a passing symptom. 

Training is an essential part of your job. With the demands of your work schedule, spending time with your family, and your daily 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. Does your patient have airway patency? 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.

While tachycardia can be a sign of respiratory distress, it also can be a complication of interventions to treat respiratory distress, including suctioning. First responders and medical providers must have a clear understanding of the link between tachycardia and suctioning so that they can reduce the risk of patient injuries and improve both long- and short-term outcomes. 

Pediatric emergencies are always a bit unsettling. Fortunately, children make up a minority of our patients, but when these emergencies occur, it can be stressful—for the patient, for the patient’s family, and for you, the responder.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of disease-related death in the United States. Though people of widely varying health profiles can develop this disorder, it is more common among people who smoke. First responders in the Deep South and in other regions where smoking is common may regularly encounter patients with COPD. Suctioning these patients demands skill and compassion. Here’s what you need to know about suctioning a patient with COPD.