In this month's Back to Basics series, Rachelle Griffiths provides the first article pertaining to anaesthetic practice. The topic is airway management, which is a fundamental aspect of preserving life. The anaesthetic practitioner must ensure that all the necessary equipment for airway management is available. Reading this article will not only provide this knowledge but it will also identify some of the observational factors that are present when difficulties are occurring. The six articles of the previous Back to Basics series, which was much appreciated, were written by Claire Campbell and Marion Taylor. Claire Campbell is Senior Clinical Nurse at the Operating Department, Royal Lancaster Infirmary in Lancaster; Marion Taylor is Practice Development Nurse at the Operating Department, Royal Free Hospital, London.