Cricoid pressure: assessment of performance and effect of training in emergency department staff.

Objectives: (i) To evaluate the theoretical knowledge and practical skills of ED staff regarding the technique of cricoid pressure; (ii) to assess the efficacy of two methods of cricoid pressure training.

Methods: Theoretical knowledge of participants was assessed by a pretraining questionnaire, and practical ability was assessed using a Flinders Meditech cricoid pressure trainer. Participants then received a brief period of theoretical instruction, and were allocated to two training groups.