Airway management and athletic trainers

The purpose of this article was to introduce the topic of airway management in the context of emergency preparedness. Although this article contained many opinions by the author (some of which were designed to create controversy and stimulate discussion), it also contained data to be used when creating evidence-based policies. Airway management is a hallmark of emergency care and serves as an excellent example of the challenges that ATCs need to overcome to deliver quality health-care services as professional health-care providers. Although EMTs have only one semester of education, and even the most advanced-level paramedics usually only have 2-year associate of science degrees, they are far more prepared to handle life-threatening emergencies than most athletic trainers are. Although this is likely because EMS personnel have more frequent exposure to life-threatening emergencies, that should not be used as an excuse. ATCs are simply not as well prepared in emergency medicine as they are in other facets of the job. Although taping ankles is important and performed far more frequently than emergency-management skills, it is far more important to be proficient in the life-saving skills that might become necessary. Why are ATCs not trained in these life-saving procedures? If we are truly health-care providers, we must be taught these techniques, be tested on them, and be legally allowed to apply them in all states. This article was written because we, as ATCs, have a professional responsibility to advance the profession of athletic training by increasing our level of knowledge and scope of practice, as well as by legitimizing our professional standing as allied health-care providers (not to mention our moral and ethical obligation to our patients). © 2005 Human Kinetics.