TRAINING FOR THE USE OF THE LARYNGEAL MASK IN EMERGENCY AND RESUSCITATION SITUATIONS

It has been suggested that the laryngeal mask has a role to play in the management of the airway during resuscitation both from cardiac arrest and possibly major trauma. Should it be introduced for this purpose, there will be a need to provide training for a very large number of paramedical staff. Currently training in advanced airway management techniques involves live patient practice in theatres; clearly this system is already reaching a limit as paramedics in training often have some difficulty in reaching the prescribed number of procedures. This paper describes experience with a possible alternative utilising only classroom teaching.