Step 1: Preparation | Airway of the Month

Step 1

Preparation

Make the room, the physiology, and the rescue plan ready before medications are pushed.

Learning objectives

Stage oxygenation and suction
Optimize patient position
Prepare primary and backup devices
Assign roles
Make the rescue pathway visible

Say aloud

Before meds: oxygen is on, suction works, BVM/rescue is ready, tube/device/bougie are ready, EtCO₂ is connected, and everyone knows their role.

Critical actions

Oxygen plan ready Suction x2 tested BVM with PEEP/filter/adjuncts Position/ramp/C-spine plan VL and DL backup ETT, stylet, syringe, bougie SGA and cric kit EtCO₂ and monitoring

Teaching pearl

Preparation is not a supply checklist. It is a failure-proofing process: oxygenation margin, clean view, first-pass mechanics, and rescue readiness.

Common pitfalls

Suction present but not turned on
Video laryngoscope not plugged in or focused
No syringe to check cuff/inflate balloon
Bougie not within reach
Cric kit “somewhere nearby” rather than staged

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