The right suction catheter can save patients’ lives. The wrong one can cause pharyngeal injuries, reduce suction power, and even increase morbidity and mortality. Whether you’re purchasing suction catheters for portable use in EMS settings, for the hospital, or for a medical clinic, selecting a variety of tips is key. This strategy ensures that providers always have the right suction catheter on hand. Here are some questions to ask before making your next purchase.

A suction machine is a key component of any medical toolkit. In hospital settings, it prevents aspiration and protects the airway during medical procedures ranging from routine to revolutionary. SSCOR offers a range of suction devices for every agency and need.

The right suction machine is an investment in patients’ lives. Here are factors to consider when choosing the right device for your needs.

Medical suction can save lives when it’s properly performed. However, improper technique can make an emergency situation worse, causing potentially catastrophic injuries. The right training tips for your paramedic team can maximize their job effectiveness and even save lives. Here’s what your team needs to know about safe medical suction.

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.

More than 5,000 people die from choking each year. Aspiration remains alarmingly common, and accounts for 5-15 percent of community-acquired pneumonia cases. Airway management remains a critical and life-saving tool for EMS responders. According to one study, 1.5 percent of EMS cases in a five-month period involved intubation. Yet 25 percent of intubation attempts failed.

Ask any emergency responder and they'll tell you the critical role portable suction plays in maintaining airway patency. No other tool can remove blood, vomit, or sputum from the airway, or allow you to visualize the cords prior to intubation.

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.

When you think of in-hospital suction, you probably picture the typical wall-mounted unit that is supplied by vacuum lines piped throughout the building. What may not come readily to mind are portable suction units, but portable suction plays a vital role in the hospital setting. Let's familiarize ourselves with in-hospital suction strategies.

Medical suction is one of the most fundamental treatments in emergency response. Whether you are clearing vomit from an unresponsive patient, controlling bleeding in a trauma victim, or visualizing the cords during intubation, your portable suction unit is one of the most important tools in your EMS arsenal.

So let’s review a few of the crucial terms in medical suction; some of these focus on the unit itself, and others are related to its role in patient care.

Anyone working in patient care knows how important oropharyngeal suctioning is to maintaining airway patency. Not only does it remove bodily fluids (blood, mucus, saliva, and vomit) from the airway, but it also allows visualization of the cords during intubation—a crucial step in establishing an advanced airway.