EMT Curriculum

2.02.A - Suction

Equipment for this station: - Suction unit with French and Yankauer catheters - Suction head (if available) – otherwise older adult manikin with pharynx or Suction Head - ET tube - Fluid (soapy water) for suctioning

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

Objectives: Demonstrate how to operate a suction unit. (p 344) Demonstrate how to suction a patient’s airway. (pp 344–345, Skill Drill 9-6) Setup: Set up the manikin in a central area and have the students huddle around and take turns. If you have enough equipment to run two simultaneous stations you should do that. Instructions to be read to students: “I am going to demonstrate suctioning. We will all practice this multiple times until you are all comfortable with it and can do it without hesitation.”

Please note the following:

- DO NOT run this station without a product for the students to aspirate. Although it is messy, this is likely the only opportunity the students will have to actually really suction something before they treat a highly acute patient. Do not lose this opportunity to teach this right. Students really enjoy seeing the stuff move up the tubing also.

- Load a manikin with an amount of soapy water.

- Have each student suction the oropharynx with a yankauer.

- Have students suction either an ET Tube with a French catheter.

- DO NOT encourage French catheter use in the oropharynx. It is highly ineffective. They should only be using a French catheter on airway devices such as an ET tube