Airway & Breathing

Start with ventilation that works, not a laryngoscope. Two-person BVM, suction that clears vomit, ear-to-sternal-notch, VL and bougie, drowning, stridor, smoke, DSI, peds, trachs, and the minutes after the tube — with a CICO plan you say out loud before the first look.

Lessons

Suggested order

Twenty-nine modules in this path. Progress is saved on this device after you pass a quiz.

1
Effective BVM VentilationSeal, position, rate, and volume that actually move the chest.
2
Waveform Capnography: The Gold StandardConfirm and monitor every advanced airway.
3
Failed Oxygenation: DOPE-SSystematic fix when SpO₂ will not climb.
4
Difficult Airway AnticipationPlan A/B/C before the first attempt.
5
Asthma & COPD Crisis VentilationExhalation time and auto-PEEP discipline.
6
Supraglottic Airways in the FieldRescue/primary SGA with continuous confirmation.
7
Post-Intubation CareSecure, ventilate, recheck after every move.
8
Oxygen Titration, Not Maximum FlowTreat hypoxia. ACS, stroke, and post-arrest do not share one SpO₂ band.
9
CPAP & Noninvasive VentilationCPAP/NIV when they can protect the airway and the lungs need pressure, not just oxygen.
10
Preoxygenation & Apneic OxygenationPreoxygenate and keep oxygen on during the attempt; re-oxygenate between looks.
11
OPA & NPA: Airway Adjuncts That WorkOPA if no gag; NPA with basilar-skull caution. Size, seat, then BVM.
12
Foreign-Body Airway ObstructionAHA 2025: 5 back blows, then 5 abdominal thrusts. Infants get chest thrusts. Unresponsive → CPR.
13
Pediatric Airway DifferencesOcciput, tongue, anterior larynx, tiny FRC. Position, modest volume, pediatric ventilation rates.
14
Tracheostomy EmergenciesInner cannula, suction, stoma oxygenation. Do not bag through a capped speaking valve.
15
Front-of-Neck AccessDeclare CICO. Oxygenate. Trained scalpel or needle rescue per protocol — do not delay the call.
16
Suction That Actually Clears the AirwayYankauer/large-bore for the mouth. Short bursts. Oxygenate between passes.
17
Ear-to-Sternal-Notch PositioningEar level with the sternal notch. Ramp obese and third-trimester patients. Pillows beat hero DL.
18
Video Laryngoscopy in the FieldVL is a camera, not a destination. Watch the tube pass. Confirm with waveform.
19
Bougie Use in the FieldBougie is feel plus view. Railroad the tube. Confirm with waveform. Not a fourth attempt.
20
Drowning: Airway & Ventilation FirstRemove from water, rescue breaths, CPR if pulseless. AHA 2025 special circumstances.
21
Smoke Inhalation & the Airway ClockClosed-space fire + voice change = swelling risk. O₂, sit them up, early destination.
22
Stridor: Croup vs Epiglottitis vs FBAOWork of breathing + stridor. Do not instrument a suspected epiglottis. Destination early.
23
Delayed Sequence Intubation FramingCombative and hypoxic: dissociate only if protocol allows, then preoxygenate, then the tube. CICO still spoken.
24
Respiratory Arrest With a PulsePulse present, not breathing: adult 1 breath every 6 seconds. No pulse: CPR. Recheck.
25
Mainstem Intubation RecognitionUnilateral rise, high bag pressure, sat falling: pull back to a reasonable depth and reconfirm.
26
Airway Attempt Limits: Stop DiggingLimit attempts. Change one variable. Re-oxygenate. Speak CICO before the last authorized look.
27
Angioedema: The Airway That Swells ShutSwelling + voice change = clock. Sit up. Oxygenate. Do not serial-intubate a vanishing mouth.
28
Ramping the Obese AirwayHigh BMI: build a ramp. Ear to sternal notch. Preoxygenate sitting if they can.
29
Cricoid Pressure & Gastric DistentionNo default Sellick. Slow BVM. Chest rise, not gastric rise. Decompress if the belly wins.