Airway Matters from FutureLearn

This course has been carefully designed to provide an up-to-date and practical educational experience, with learners accessing comprehensive course materials developed in collaboration with leading experts, frontline clinicians, and patients. Week 1: Safe Airway Management, Human Factors and Ergonomics, Airway Anatomy Week 2: Airway Assessment and Planning, Cognitive Tools, Dealing with Emergencies Week 3: Safety and Special Techniques Week 4: The Shared Airways Week 5: Airway Management in Special Circumstances Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more This course, endorsed by the Difficult Airway Society , is for all members of the multidisciplinary team who provide airway support to patients, or care for patients with a compromised airway. This includes anaesthetists, anaesthesia associates, operating department practitioners, nurses, physiotherapists, adult and paediatric intensivists, prehospital and emergency medicine physicians, paramedics, head and neck surgeons and members of the cardiac arrest team. The course is in English and the learning outcomes are relevant to UK based and international colleagues. Health professionals might find the Certificate of Achievement for this course useful for providing evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) or commitment to their career. You can use the hashtag #AirwayMatters to talk about this course on social media.

Topics Covered

Airway Safety: The Big Picture
NAP4, Key Findings and Recommendations
Human Factors and Ergonomics
Anatomy: a Journey Through the Airways
Assess the Airway and Develop a Strategy
Airway Equipment
Cognitive Tools
Can’t Intubate, Can’t Oxygenate
Rapid Sequence Induction
Extubation
The Obstructed Airway
Special Techniques: Awake Tracheal Intubation, High-Flow Nasal Oxygenation, Jet Ventilation, LASER
The Patient Journey
Tracheostomies and Laryngectomies
The Critically Ill Patient
Prehospital Airway Management
Paediatrics
Obstetrics
Obesity
A Global Perspective

Reviews summary

Comprehensive airway management for healthcare professionals

According to learners, 'Airway Matters' provides a comprehensive and practical educational experience tailored for healthcare professionals. Students highlight its relevance for Continuing Professional Development and its multidisciplinary approach, which fosters a deeper understanding across various roles. The course thoroughly covers a wide range of topics, from fundamental anatomy to complex emergency scenarios like can't intubate, can't oxygenate, and is consistently praised for its up-to-date, evidence-based content developed in collaboration with leading experts and frontline clinicians. While some advanced practitioners might find certain foundational elements a bit introductory, the course is broadly considered a vital resource for refreshing knowledge and gaining new perspectives on safe airway management.

Highly valuable for professional development, backed by experts.

"This course is excellent for CPD and provides tangible evidence of my commitment to career development."

"The collaboration with leading experts really shines through, ensuring high-quality, evidence-based learning that I can trust."

"The fact that it's endorsed by the Difficult Airway Society adds significant credibility and reassurance for me."

Enhances understanding across diverse healthcare roles.

"I appreciated the multidisciplinary perspective, which provided valuable insights from various roles."

"It ensures a shared understanding across teams, which is crucial in critical care settings. I found it really helpful."

"I learned about other team members' roles, which is useful for collaborative airway management, gaining insights into their unique challenges."

Delivers up-to-date content with real-world applicability.

"This course is an absolute must for anyone involved in airway management. The content is incredibly comprehensive, covering everything from fundamental anatomy to complex emergency scenarios."

"The modules on Human Factors and Cognitive Tools were particularly insightful and immediately applicable to my practice."

"It refreshed my knowledge on rapid sequence induction and provided new perspectives on managing the critically ill airway. The practical tips shared by frontline clinicians made a huge difference."

May be introductory for highly experienced practitioners.

"My only minor suggestion would be to include more interactive simulation exercises. While the theoretical foundation is superb, I prefer more hands-on."

"While generally comprehensive, I found some foundational elements a bit basic given my advanced background, but it still served as a fantastic refresher."

"I felt some parts could have gone into more depth. It felt a bit introductory for someone with several years of experience in the field."

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