Question

You are transporting a patient who drank too much alcohol at a party and is now unresponsive and vomiting profusely. You have been using your on-board suction unit to keep the patient's airway clear, but the suction unit has suddenly stopped working. What should you do?

1) Call for backup ambulance so that you can use their suctioning unit.
2) Stop suctioning the patient until you arrive at the emergency department.
3) Insert an OPA or NPA so that no more vomitus will enter the airway.
4) Grab your portable suctioning unit and resume patient care.

Answer 1

If the onboard suction unit fails while transporting an unresponsive and vomiting patient, immediately switch to a portable suction unit to continue clearing the airway.

Step-by-step explanation:

When transporting a patient who has consumed excessive alcohol, is unresponsive, and is vomiting, maintaining a clear airway is critical. If the onboard suction unit fails, you should grab your portable suctioning unit and resume patient care. This is vital to ensure the patient's airway remains clear, as vomitus can obstruct the airway leading to a life-threatening situation. In some instances, depending on the patient's level of consciousness and ability to protect their airway, an oropharyngeal airway (OPA) or nasopharyngeal airway (NPA) may be used. However, the immediate response should be to switch to a portable suction unit, not to cease suctioning or wait for backup.