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Airway of the MonthRead the patient. Rescue the airway. Run the room.
Airway of the MonthRead the patient. Rescue the airway. Run the room.
Situation category
EMS and prehospital
Prehospital constraints and handoff-focused airway priorities.
EMS Trauma AirwayPrehospital trauma airway decisions must account for oxygenation, hemorrhage, transport time, and available rescue tools.Prehospital SCAPE / Pulmonary Edema AirwayMany SCAPE patients improve with early CPAP/NIV and afterload reduction when available by protocol.Cardiac Arrest Airway PrioritiesIn arrest, airway actions must not compromise high-quality CPR and defibrillation.Drowning / Submersion AirwayOxygenation, ventilation, hypothermia, and aspiration risk dominate the early airway plan.CO / Cyanide / Smoke Inhalation AirwaySmoke inhalation is airway plus toxicology: oxygen alone may not fix cyanide shock.
About this resource
Created by: Andrew Pirotte, MD; Kyle Brown, MD; Reba Hodge, MD; Amanda Vanderwerf, PharmD, BCEMP; Morgan Kimball, PharmD, BCEMP; Joshua Mohess
Clinical review: Clinical review pending: local ED, ICU, EMS, anesthesia, pharmacy, and pediatric protocol review recommended before bedside teaching rollout.
Last reviewed: 2026-07-23
Next scheduled review: 2027-01-23
Designed for: EM residents, emergency physicians, EMS clinicians, airway educators, and simulation faculty
Important: Educational resource and cognitive-aid guide only; not a bedside order set or substitute for local protocol, medical direction, or clinical judgment.
Website contact: kybrown@kumc.edu