A stage one alert has been issued to raise awareness of the risk of having two different types of airway humidification devices simultaneously connected to a patient’s ventilation equipment.

• The risk of using different airway humidification devices simultaneously

There are two humidifiers in common use: heated (water) humidifiers (HHs), usually located between the ventilator and the breathing system, and heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs), placed at the patient’s end of the breathing system. The inadvertent use of both types of humidifier simultaneously can cause the HME to become saturated with water and could lead to the airway becoming obstructed.

NHS providers are asked to take local action to prevent the risk.

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• Patient safety alerts