Around 1.4 million people living with a life-limiting illness receive care from hospices in the United States annually. To optimize the quality of life for patients in hospice and palliative care settings, healthcare providers must be knowledgeable about the unique breathing problems and airway emergencies these patients experience, along with the best methods for airway management and treatment.

Endotracheal intubation offers life-saving relief when an airway obstruction endangers a patient’s life. Yet many first responders have little experience with endotracheal intubation, and some actively avoid training opportunities because they feel overwhelmed and intimidated by the process. Endotracheal intubation is a basic skill that every first responder must master.

Anyone in the medical field can attest to an epidemic sweeping our country: opioid overdose . This lethal condition has touched every region of the US and is now a leading cause of death. It’s been proclaimed a national health crisis. If you're an EMS responder, it is simply a matter of time before you are faced with this situation. 

Suctioning can be life-saving in neonates, particularly those born prematurely and those struggling with the transition from fetus to neonate. Like any medical intervention, it also presents some risks, especially if performed absent medical indication or hastily and thoughtlessly. Identifying the most common neonatal suction catheter complications can help you reduce patient risk, improving care outcomes and potentially saving lives.

Both basic and advanced airway management can save lives. Neither is more important than the other, and neither is a “better” option. When basic airway management is the safest and most effective option, immediately escalating to advanced airway management can be immensely harmful.

It’s astonishing how fast a 12-hour shift in the hospital can go. You find yourself in constant motion, carefully assessing each patient and making sure to complete all of your necessary duties before the next nurse comes on to relieve you.

You are about to head out on a call for a 65-year-old man who is reported to be suffering from sudden respiratory distress. Few details are known about this man’s medical history, so you aren’t entirely sure what you are about to encounter. You grab your First In bag, knowing that your airway management tools mean you’re well–prepared for any airway emergency.

You can tell a lot in the first few seconds of patient contact. Your initial survey begins the moment you step on scene. For example, there’s that “difficulty breathing” call that comes in the wee hours of the morning to an assisted-living residence you’ve responded to on countless occasions.

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. 

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