Emergency Medical Response You Are the Emergency Medical Responder As border security in the immediate vicinity and trained as an emergency medical responder (EMR), you respond to a call at one of the docks for an unconscious adult who collapsed for no apparent reason. You size-up the scene and notice that a middle-age male is lying prone on the floor and not moving. You discover that the patient’s chest does not rise when you attempt ventilations. Lesson 15: Airway Management

Emergency Medical Response Suctioning  Use of sterile suction catheters of appropriate size  Airflow of >40 LPM at end of delivery tube  Vacuum of >300 mmHg when clamped  Process of removing foreign matter, such as mucus, fluid or blood, from a patient’s upper airway  Two types of devices Mechanical: electrically powered Manual: hand powered; no energy source

Emergency Medical Response Airway Adjuncts  Mechanical airway adjuncts Oral (Oropharyngeal) airways (OPAs) Nasal (Nasopharyngeal) airways (NPAs)  They keep the tongue (the most common cause of airway obstruction) away from the back of the throat.  OPAs are only for unconscious, unresponsive patients without a gag reflex.

Emergency Medical Response Airway Obstructions  Anatomical obstruction from― The tongue Swollen tissues of the mouth, tongue or throat  Mechanical obstruction from― Foreign objects, such as food or toys Fluids, such as vomit

Emergency Medical Response Foreign Body Airway Obstruction  Universal sign: a conscious person who is clutching the throat  Mild or partial FBAO Ability to move some air to and from the lungs Forcibly coughing, which is encouraged  Severe FBAO Inability to cough, speak, cry or breathe Immediate action is necessary

Emergency Medical Response Measures to Relieve FBAO  Conscious patient Continued forcible coughing Back blows Abdominal thrusts (adults and children) Chest thrusts (for infants, pregnant women and patients too large to reach around)  Unconscious patient Chest compressions Finger sweep if object is visible in the mouth

Emergency Medical Response Scenario While attending a picnic, you notice that a 4-year-old boy begins coughing very forcibly while eating a hot dog. His mother appears frantic and begins shouting for help. As a trained EMR, you respond to the mother’s call for help.

Emergency Medical Response You Are the Emergency Medical Responder You reposition the patient’s airway and attempt 2 ventilations, but the chest still does not rise. After a few minutes of care, the patient’s chest begins to rise and fall with the ventilations, but he is not breathing on his own.

Emergency Medical Response Nasal Airway  Uses Conscious, responsive patient Unconscious patient  Contraindications for use Suspected head trauma Suspected skull fracture  Lubrication of airway with water-soluble lubricant is necessary  Insertion with bevel of airway toward septum