Reference — Transport Respiratory Care
Pre-Transport Checklist
A scannable pre-transport checklist organized by airway, breathing, circulation, drugs, equipment, and team — the package-and-stabilize routine that should be complete before anyone moves the bed.
Written by Apex Respiratory Editorial Team
Educational use only. This material supports respiratory therapy education and exam review. It is not medical advice and is not a substitute for clinical judgment, institutional protocols, or physician orders. Always follow facility policies and current provider orders, and verify calculations independently before clinical use.
Overview
Use this checklist to package and stabilize a critically ill patient before transport. It is organized by airway, breathing, circulation, drugs, equipment, and team. Complete it on the unit — the goal is to leave stabilized, not to stabilize en route.
Checklist by System
| System | Check |
|---|---|
| Airway | Tube position confirmed (depth at lip, capnography); tube securely fastened; suction present and working; backup airway kit packed. |
| Breathing | Ventilator settings set and verified (mode, Vт, rate, PEEP, FiO₂); oxygen supply calculated for round trip + reserve; self-inflating bag-valve device with PEEP valve present; HME if using a transport ventilator. |
| Circulation | At least two functioning IV access points; fluids and vasoactive infusions on pumps with charged batteries; continuous ECG, SpO₂, and blood-pressure monitoring attached. |
| Drugs | Emergency medications available; sedation and analgesia continued; resuscitation drugs accessible. |
| Equipment | Every battery-powered device checked and charged; defibrillator/monitor as indicated; spare cylinder/backup oxygen. |
| Team & Communication | Receiving unit and accepting provider confirmed; bed ready; documentation and consent complete; at least two qualified personnel; contingency plan briefed. |
Clinical Notes
- Stabilize before departure. Do not leave with marginal oxygenation, ventilation, or hemodynamics. Addressing instability en route is harder, slower, and riskier than doing it on the unit.
- Calculate the oxygen supply. Estimate the round-trip duration, add a reserve margin, and verify the cylinder volume before departure. Estimating by feel routinely underestimates consumption.
- Use the written list, not memory. Checklists reduce adverse events during transport. Running through this list verbally and checking each item off reduces the chance of a critical item being missed under time pressure.
Safety reminder. If the patient is not stable enough to transport safely, communicate that clearly to the team. The risk of transport must be weighed against the clinical benefit of the destination study or procedure.
Related Resources
Sources
- Warren J, Fromm RE Jr, Orr RA, Rotello LC, Horst HM; American College of Critical Care Medicine. Guidelines for the inter- and intrahospital transport of critically ill patients. Crit Care Med. 2004;32(1):256-262.
- American Association for Respiratory Care. AARC Clinical Practice Guideline: In-hospital transport of the mechanically ventilated patient—2002 revision & update. Respir Care. 2002;47(6):721-723.