EMS MEd Blog

Should the EMT scope of practice include supraglottic airway placement?

EMS is dispatched to a cardiac arrest at a residence with bystander CPR in progress.

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 The paramedic and EMT partners arrive on scene to find BLS care being initiated by a company of four firefighters who are credentialed at either the EMR or EMT level.

 The paramedic focuses on coordinating the resuscitation including ensuring the priorities of early defibrillation and high-quality CPR, as well as accomplishing the ALS tasks of obtaining IV/IO access and medication administration. While focusing on these priorities, the paramedic would like to off-load airway management to another on-scene provider so a supraglottic airway can be placed.

 Supraglottic airway placement is not currently in the 2019 National Scope of Practice Model at the EMT level. However, some states, or where permissible EMS agencies, have placed this within the EMT scope.

In your service or state, is supraglottic airway placement at the EMT scope?

What are the advantages, disadvantages or concerns regarding this?

 Please leave your comments below by February 28th for them to be included in the discussion forum summary post which will be published next month.  Make sure to include your state of practice in your commentary.