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Unplanned Extubation in the Prehospital Environment

Jun 25, 2019

For the last several months, NAEMT has been participating in a multi-organizational initiative led by the Society for Airway Management to highlight awareness and prevent complications associated with unplanned extubation in the prehospital environment.
 
The Unplanned Extubation Initiative has prepared a document describing an incident in which a young patient, Drew Hughes, died when his life sustaining endotracheal tube was unintentionally removed during transport by ambulance to a Level I Trauma Center. The document also includes background on the issue of unplanned extubation that provides additional insight into ways to prevent patient injury and death.

Download Unplanned Extubation Document

We ask you to please share this information with your agency colleagues to increase awareness on this issue and help prevent unplanned extubation in our most critically ill and injured patients. Our goal by bringing attention to this issue is to heighten awareness and increase education in order to prevent these potentially life threatening complications.

Craig Manifold, DO, FACEP
Medical Director, NAEMT