Eh? Pedi field protocols?

[TazziRN]

We have a new nurse orienting to the ER, never worked an ER before. She was asking me about RSI and I was explaining why we do it. The questions turned to intubating kids, and my coworker jumped in about how studies show that intubating kids actually does more harm than good, and that field protocols are now to bag kids and haul a$$ into the ER. Is this true? Our pedi codes always come in intubated but I'm wondering if that's because we're so rural that it often is just the medic and EMT on scene, whereas in town where the coworker works most of the time (he's per d. at my place) and there are pairs of hands coming out of the woodwork to help, it might be standard of care. Yes? No? I ask because while he is a very good nurse, he's also very arrogant and has been known to act more knowledgeable about something than he is.

[TazziRN, RN]

Ah....okay, got it!

[vampiregirl, BSN, RN]

Don't forget about a nasal airway!! VERY useful in situations like these!!!

Is vamedic4 perhaps referring to an npa? I've not seen an npa occlude an airway IF it is sized properly (measured from the tip of the ear to the tip of the nostril, appropriate diameter) and no facial trauma. Or is there something I'm not considering...

I work as an EMT-A for a somewhat rural EMS service, transports ~20 min to local hospital. Our EMT-P protocols include pediatric intubation and RSI.