EMS World Expo 2018

Responding to sick or injured children evokes a visceral and emotional response even in seasoned providers. We will explore the differences, and more importantly, the similarities in airway management of the pediatric and adult patient and how those differences can be helpful in our planning and intervention. We will discuss and highlight the entire spectrum of airway management starting with opening of the airway and nasal cannulas all the way to intubation. The emphasis will be on proper positioning throughout the continuum of airway management, proper preparation, the importance of pre-oxygenation, and finally the critical value of the bag valve mask and its proper sizing, mask sizing, and technical use. Intubation is not always the answer, and sometimes can be harmful in pediatric airway management. In addition to the critical need for expertise in bag valve mask ventilation, we will explore new supraglottic airway products, and old ones, that can facilitate airway management in the child. Finally we will emphasize the use of a common piece of non-airway equipment on every transport ambulance that can dramatically improve your airway management skills.

Read more of Dr. Nelson's work on EMS World's website: Pediatric Airway Management webinar