Airway  Placement

• Minimum: Local anesthetic for cricothyroidotomy (superficial skin anesthesia plus 1-2 mL injected through the cricothyroid membrane); or placement without medications in unconscious patient. **Note: most sedating agents can be given an intramuscular (IM) if IV/IO has not been established
• Better: Any IV/IO sedating agent (opioid, benzodiazepine: reference the JTS Analgesia and Sedation Management During Prolonged Field Care CPG. for procedural doses of such agents).⁸
• Best: Procedural dose ketamine (1-2 mg/kg IV push) for ETT or cricothyroidotomy placement + local anesthetic (lidocaine) for cricothyroidotomy placement.