EMT Lesson Plans

2.02 INSTRUCTOR GUIDANCE – AIRWAY ADJUNCTS

Objectives: Demonstrate the insertion of an oral airway. (pp 339–340, Skill Drill 9-3)

Demonstrate the insertion of an oral airway with a 90° rotation. (pp 340–341, Skill Drill 9-4)

Demonstrate the insertion of a nasal airway. (pp 341–342, Skill Drill 9-5)

Demonstrate how to place a patient in the recovery position. (p 346)

Setup:

- Adult Airway head/manikin - Child Airway head/manikin (if available) - Infant Airway head/manikin (if available)

Instructions to be read to students: “I am going to demonstrate OPA/NPA insertion. We will all practice this multiple times until you are all comfortable with it and can do it without hesitation.”

Precautions: Do not let the station deteriorate into chatter. Continue rotating them through assemblies until time is up.

Please note the following:

- Running three age groups together lets students be less idle during the station. If three age group manikins are not available, set up multiple adult stations.

- Make sure students measure the airway before insertion

- The current EMT manual uses pretty strong language prohibiting insertion of an OPA into a pediatric patient without a tongue depressor. I’m not sure I feel quite that strongly about it, but be sure to encourage that practice on the pediatric manikins - Students will not be good at this from one insertion. Make sure they do it at least three times before rotating to another age manikin - This station might run quicker that other stations. If so, run students individually though a quick mini-scenario involving multiple procedures:

o Patient has vomitus in mouth, will require suctioning then OPA insertion

o Patient is unresponsive and snoring. He rejects the OPA, but accepts the NPA

o Patient is unresponsive, accepts OPA, needs ventilation, then vomits. Students should remove the OPA, roll the patient on the side and remove contents, then put patient supine again and insert OPA and continue ventilating o Patient is semi-conscious and breathing. No mechanism suggestive of spinal injury. Have the students insert a nasal airway and turn the patient into recovery position.