i was just wondering where u all live and learned intubation as a basic skill. i live in ohio and it was a station for our national registry practical. i know its in the Brady text book for basics but some states dont require for testing.
Some states allow basics to intubate, but that does not make it right. There is even a heated debate to see if Paramedics should still be taught intubation techniques.
I agree with R/R. I mean, intubating takes skill. Its a highly invassive procedure and needs a great deal of know how. I'm not allowed to do it as an EMT-A but with the supervision of a paramedic I'm allowed.
A lot can go wrong with tubing such as insertion. The tube could be placed in the esophogus and create gastric distension, even though the placement isn't blind. It could be placed in to far and will only inflate the right lung.
it can also hit the vagus nerve and mess up the heart rate leading to dangerous arrythmias.
Basics can't intubate in Indiana, and if I heard anyone around here suggest that they be able to do so, I think I would have to knock some sense into them. At the basic level we most certainly do not receive the education needed to go along with the skills training and, unfortunately, I don't see that changing anytime soon. You can train a monkey to do just about anything, but that doesn't mean you should.
I agree with JeepMedic. It's too easy. If you can stick a straw into a drink without poking your eye out then you're pretty much qualified to intubate. The time spent teaching intubation skills is less in the medic program than it is in the basic. Even most medical schools spend less time teaching intubation for soon to be doctors. I WANT my basic to be able to tube. Keeps my hands free to do other things (ie: defib, IV's, drugs...). If all you want is too have your basic partner carry your bag then you need to check your ego. This isn't rocket science.
It is not the skill of intubation it is doing the assessment to find out if they need intubation. Airways are not used enough in the field. I am talking about the basic OPA and NPA airways.
with the appropriate training, basics should absolutely be able to intubate. i am a basic. i have had advanced airway management training, based on previous work requirments. its not that complictaed a skill that a basic cant do it and any statement to the contrary is paragodism at its finest
