After reading your Airway Continuum, I follow it to a T. I've actually NOT intubated patients because of it, since I was ventilating well with a BVM and OPA.

After reading your Airway Continuum, I follow it to a T. I've actually NOT intubated patients because of it, since I was ventilating well with a BVM and OPA.

I've taken SLAM, and had the privilege of being an adjunct instructor for several of their courses at the Texas EMS Conference over the years. It's a great airway course, one every medic should take.

One thing I'd add: The intubating bougie (AKA Eschmann) is a great tool when in its original shape. However, if you coil it up and leave it in the bottom of a jump bag for a couple of months it tends to hold that coil and become a lot less effective. Store 'em straight.

I've taken SLAM, and had the privilege of being an adjunct instructor for several of their courses at the Texas EMS Conference over the years. It's a great airway course, one every medic should take.

One thing I'd add: The intubating bougie (AKA Eschmann) is a great tool when in its original shape. However, if you coil it up and leave it in the bottom of a jump bag for a couple of months it tends to hold that coil and become a lot less effective. Store 'em straight.

I included it not because I think it's relevant in crash intubations, but to demonstrate just how shockingly limited EMS airway education really is. Most medics have no idea what Mallampati scoring or Cormack and Lehane grading even is.

1) I think some people get too hung up on Mallampati classifications and the like. If the patient needs airway control, the score means nothing, we still have to do something. The score might, maybe, change our approach, but it's just us out there, so we better get something done and done correctly.

2) People forget, although if they spent any time in an OR, they learned, the trick pictured at this link. http://www.anest.ufl.edu/at/case1/positioning.html

3) I think some people and some systems have too many devices, if that makes sense. Medics should become very proficient using the techniques and equipment they have rather than concentrate on getting every airway toy out there.

4) There is nothing wrong with bringing a well ventilated patient into the hospital using an OPA or some other “BLS” device. It's far better than bringing in a well hypoventilated patient because you thought that getting an advanced airway in was the goal. It's not, ventilation is.

I included it not because I think it's relevant in crash intubations, but to demonstrate just how shockingly limited EMS airway education really is. Most medics have no idea what Mallampati scoring or Cormack and Lehane grading even is.

1) I think some people get too hung up on Mallampati classifications and the like. If the patient needs airway control, the score means nothing, we still have to do something. The score might, maybe, change our approach, but it's just us out there, so we better get something done and done correctly.

2) People forget, although if they spent any time in an OR, they learned, the trick pictured at this link. http://www.anest.ufl.edu/at/case1/positioning.html

3) I think some people and some systems have too many devices, if that makes sense. Medics should become very proficient using the techniques and equipment they have rather than concentrate on getting every airway toy out there.

4) There is nothing wrong with bringing a well ventilated patient into the hospital using an OPA or some other “BLS” device. It's far better than bringing in a well hypoventilated patient because you thought that getting an advanced airway in was the goal. It's not, ventilation is.