Manual airway support can be BLS or ALS. It's just a matter of how protected it needs to be. Different systems have different protocols. I'm sure you guys don't save or lose any greater percentage of patients than we do. You asked when I had last used a BLS airway. If used properly, they're pretty easy. If you never use them, they are a pain. I would hate to have to intubate the seizure patient who just needs a couple of minutes to wake up. Intubation is NOT a non-traumatic event, even when done in the OR by an anesthesiologist.Wildcard:I have found they are more of a pain than they are worth. If the gag is intact, they don't need em and if it isn't, they need manual airway support anyway. Just MHO.
And again today - a jaw thrust and BVM worked just fine until the tube was ready to go.....