Airway Management for Emergency Medical Technicians
In matters that apply to emergency medical technicians (EMT), the most vital facet is to manage the airway. Airway management is vital because it facilitates movement of air to enable the patient to breath. It is the first crucial action that doctors consider while diagnosing patients. This is because, when a sick person fails to breath, it means that he or she is dead. In this regard, each medical practitioner is supposed to be knowledgeable on how to manage airway.
An airway is a route that allows movement of gases during respiration. It is vital for an individual to understand anatomy to be able him to handle a patient who has breathing problems.
N/b- The human anatomy
It incorporates two procedures that include inhalation and exhalation. Inhalation is when an individual breathe in air while exhalation happens when air is released out. Respiration is a complex process that allows the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen gasses within the cell. To measure if a patient is breathing normally, the doctor needs to assess the rate and quality of breath.
Based on the reports from the American Heart Association, breathing rate in children should be between 15-30 minutes. In adults, their rate in breathing should be 12-20 times per minute (American Heart Association 56). In cases whereby breathing is noted to be inadequate, it is obstructed by factors. These include fluids in chest which blocks the airway and a swollen tongue. To recognize if an individual’s breath is inadequate, the medical practitioner needs to conduct a visual check. For instance, a person who has problems in breathing tends to have a cool skin.
It is also clear that infants and children with airway issues suffer from hypoxia. This is because their metabolic rate is high and they also have small reserves for oxygen. Artificial ventilation is significant to aid patients with breathing problems. In general, medical practitioners have to handle infants and children carefully when giving airway services. This is because their system is delicate and different to that of adults.
Works Cited
American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured. 9th. New York: Jones & Bartlett, 2005.
American Heart Association. BLS for Health Care Providers. South Deerfield, MA: Channing Bete Company, 2006.
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