Hypotension is clinically defined as systolic blood pressure below 90 or diastolic blood pressure below 60. Slight variations in these figures are normal, and very fit people may have unusually low blood pressure. So it’s important to take into account the patient’s full condition, not just their blood pressure. When a patient has other symptoms, such as dizziness or fainting, hypotension may signal a serious or even life-threatening ailment. If you encounter a hypotensive patient, here’s what you need to know to administer proper treatment. 

Prehospital airway suctioning can treat aspiration, choking, obstructed airways, and other common emergencies. Yet many first responders spend little time thinking about, let alone practicing, this vital skill. Because all interventions, including suctioning, carry some risks, this lack of experience may make providers reluctant to suction patients. Training EMS teams on prehospital airway suctioning can counteract this reluctance and empower teams to provide prompt, efficient, effective care in a wide variety of emergency settings. 

Extreme heat is the leading cause of natural disaster-related deaths and injuries in the United States. Between 1999-2010, more than 8,000 Americans died of heat-related injuries, and thousands more visited emergency rooms. As summer temperatures soar to record highs, first responders must be prepared to respond to heat stroke and similar symptoms.

Protecting the airway is key to protecting the patient, regardless of the reason for an EMS call. Almost all of the most common EMS emergencies involve risk to the airway. Consider the following common emergencies, and how the airway may be involved:

In 2018 alone, there have been more than 100 mass shootings. Tactical medical response requires a different skill set and approach than that required when an elder falls or a child has a choking episode. Tactical medical injuries are high-stakes, and first responders must provide prompt care in a high-stress environment where split-second decisions can be a matter of life and death.

Respiratory emergencies among the elderly are a common occurrence. As an emergency responder, especially if you work in warmer climes—such as Florida and Arizona—where many people go to retire, you will frequently be called upon to administer life-saving treatments for those in respiratory distress.

We've all been there: You're working a code in a crowded restaurant—a patron who has just finished a gargantuan meal—and as you set up your intubation equipment, the patient begins to vomit. Luckily, you have your portable suction unit ready, so your partner begins to suction as you prep your tube. But as you position yourself at the head, the patient continues to spew. What should you do? How are you supposed to intubate a patient who is actively vomiting? Impossible, right? No. There is now a technique that enables you to intubate, even in the most difficult conditions.

As an emergency medical professional, one of your most critical responsibilities is protecting your patient's airway. This can mean relieving an obstruction (using the Heimlich maneuver or forceps), placing an advanced airway (naso- or endotracheal tube), or simply repositioning the patient to keep their airway open (placing supine, using a jaw thrust).

Anyone who has seen the news lately can attest to the fact that we are in the throes of a serious flu season. Not only has there been widespread infection across the country, but there are numerous strains out there that fall outside of this year’s immunization. That’s not to say that the flu shot is useless. On the contrary, seasonal flu shots are a great way to protect yourself, especially if you are very young, elderly, or immunocompromised. The flu shot may lessen the symptoms and shorten the infection, even if you acquire a different strain. And if you’re a health care provider, you need all the protection you can get.

Thanks to modern medicine and advances in genomics, cancer treatment, and longevity research, the aging population across the United States continues to grow. As it grows, the frequency of EMS providers responding to geriatric patients will only increase.