Time-Critical Intubation

Ensuring every emergency department can intubate within five minutes

Intubation is a critical intervention for critical care teams in managing hypoxaemic crises. It secures the airway, protects from aspiration, allows ventilation and oxygenation, and is lifesaving when respiratory failure or airway obstruction occurs. These patients, if hypoxaemic cardiac arrest is avoided, do well.

In asthma/anaphylaxis mortality is associated with arrest prior to intubation rather than complications of treatment. This principal applies to most causes of hypoxia.

More than five minutes until intubation

Every Emergency Department and Pre-Hospital service must be able to provide safe "planned" emergency intubation where there is time to employ all available safety enablers.

Medical checklist titled 'Time Critical Intubation Checklist' with steps including delivering 100% oxygen, optimizing patient position, testing laryngoscope, working suction, preparing bougie, tube, syringe, monitoring EtCO2, and performing scalpel for patients over 8 years old. Orange border, white background for list, blue text.

Less than five minutes until intubation

Every intubating critical care team must provide a safe "time critical intubation" where a basic checklist or regular airway team drills enables safety in the face of hypoxia, or impending hypoxia, and the need for a definitive endotracheal tube within five minutes.