P

Priming: escalation in readiness to perform neck rescue undertaken before the occurrence/recognition of a neck rescue emergency. Priming includes both preparatory activities that take place in the more static setting before the initiation of airway management and those implemented during an evolving airway crisis in parallel with ongoing attempts to restore airway success by one of the 3 core upper airway options.

The term was developed by the Vortex Approach to facilitate understanding of the process of transition to neck rescue (simultaneous priming for neck rescue in parallel with ongoing efforts at upper airway rescue) as described by the Australian & New Zealand College of Anaesthetists.

Procedural Skills: psychomotor processes required to perform a particular intervention. Synonymous with the term ‘technical skills’ but preferred in order to emphasise that both procedural and behavioural skills make equal contributions to the ‘technique’ for safe & effective clinical performance.