Alternative techniques to gain emergency airway access

The purpose of this study was to determine how head movement and time were affected by three emergency airway access techniques (Revolution IQ(TM) quick release face mask [IQ], cordless screwdriver [CSD], and pocket mask insertion [PMI]). Eighteen certified athletic trainers (ATCs) and 18 non-certified students (NCSs) performed one trial of each technique. Separate repeated measures ANOVAs were employed for each dependent variable. We observed significant differences (F2,68 = 263.88; p < 0.001) between all three techniques in respect to time with PMI being the quickest followed by IQ and CSD techniques. The PMI technique resulted in significantly less head movement (F2,68 = 9.06; p = 0.001) and maximum head movement (F2,68 = 13.84; p < 0.001) in the frontal plane compared to the IQ and CSD techniques. The PMI technique should be used to gain rapid airway access in a football athlete in respiratory arrest. The face mask of a football athlete that is not in respiratory distress can be carefully removed with a pocket mask ready to perform the PMI technique if necessary.