I was looking at including an airway tube in my FAK. I know little about them. Any advice?

Only get them if you have training.

Take a look at this: http://zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27798

I agree 100%. Even though I was shown how to size the airway for the person and we talked about how to do it during my WFR class, there is no way I would pack one in my FAK unless I had practised with it many times.

That was a great link BTW.

This is basically an identical question to this:

"I am thinking about piloting an airplane, I know little about them. Any advice?"

If you have to ask, then you don't have the qualifications. I'm not being snide, truly.

Wikipedia seems to have some pretty good information

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intubation

Only get them if you have training.

Take a look at this: http://zombiehunters.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=27798

Thanks for that link. That's exactly what I needed!


This is basically an identical question to this:

"I am thinking about piloting an airplane, I know little about them. Any advice?"

LOL!!! But I got an A in flight ground school.

I think some of you are under the impression that I am trying to provide for something more complicated, but look at the link provided by JIM (above) and you will see the tube I am talking about.
"Nasopharygeal airways are sometimes used by people who have sleep apnea (Wikipedia)", so you guys who think I need to be able to fly the space shuttle with a medical degree stapled to my shirt must be thinking about something else. I know there are different kinds of intubation and other airway procedures, some of which are illegal to perform unless medically liscenced.

From what I've seen, inserting a nasal trumpet seems simple enough, just so long as there is no basal skull fracture or other severe head or facial injuries.

I think I'll get one, and if I can successfully insert it on myself, then I will include one in my kit.
As naive as it sounds, I've seen it done on You-tube a couple of times by bored soldiers.
The military issues them to everybody, and they are used on conscious people who might gag on an oral airway tube, and on unconscious victims to ensure their airways remain open while other first aid is performed.

Please understand, I'm not putting this kit together so I can get myself into a lawsuit. I'm not a wannabe paramedic.

Before I make any comments or suggestions, I would like to first ask you why you envision having a nasal-pharyngeal airway in your kit would be beneficial?

Under what circumstances would you want to utilize the N/P airway?

Pete

And that is the key: WHY you would use (or not use) a tool or technique is of higher priority that HOW.

The Merovingian was not a nice fellow but he was right about the 'why':

"Merovingian:...But this is not a reason, this is not a `why.' The Keymaker himself, his very nature, is means, it is not an end, and so, to look for him is to be looking for a means to do... what?

Neo: You know the answer to that question.

Merovingian: But do you? You think you do but you do not. You are here because you were sent here, you were told to come here and you obeyed...our only peace is to understand it, to understand the `why.' `Why' is what separates us from them, you from me. `Why' is the only real social power, without it you are powerless. And this is how you come to me, without `why,' without power. Another link in the chain."

I would use one to secure an open airway.
"When a patient becomes unconscious, the muscles in the jaw commonly relax and can allow the tongue to slide back and obstruct the airway."

"Where an artificial form of airway maintenance is necessary but it is impossible or unadvisory to use an oropharyngeal airway, the preferred type of airway adjunct. For example, in a patient having epileptic seizures whose teeth are clenched shut.
Also, oropharyngeal airways often trigger a patient's gag reflex, while nasopharyngeal airways often do not."

This proves not having one in my kit is a good idea...I hadn't heard any of those big words before this post

The use of an NPA is most effective when using in conjunction with O2 administration for a breathing patient via a non-rebreather or standard oxygen administration mask.



In this case, to open up the airway I would advise using the head-tilt chin-lift or modified jaw-thrust techniques rather then taking the time to insert an NPA especially if you were not trained to do so. If the patient is in respiratory arrest and you plan on providing rescue breathing, unless you have a pocket mask that covers both mouth and nose, the NPA is pretty much useless. The insertion is slightly different for the left vs. the right nares and improper insertion can lead to trauma and subsequent hemorrhage of the nasal passage further complicating airway management.





While this can be utilized for this scenario, generally while the patient is actively seizing they are not really breathing effectively, an NPA is going to do little and the risk of insertion and causing trauma is greater then the benefit, especially if this not a skill you perform routinely. Keep in mind a NPA is still only providing an airway size of one-half to two-thirds the size of the person’s single nare, without supplemental O2, you are not really providing an adequate airway.

Follow the KISS principle; learn basic airway management (head-tilt chin-lift and modified jaw-thrust techniques), rescue breathing and CPR, you will by far benefit the patient, then trying to insert an NPA.

Just my humble opinion-
Pete