From the US DOT / NHTSA Web Page
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/ems/
"Since the release of the 1994 US DOT EMT-Basic National Standard Curriculum, observations have been made about student performance on written and practical examinations, as well as performance in patient care delivery.  Some EMT-Basics appear to have a misunderstanding of the concepts and procedures of airway management, oxygenation and ventilation of patients.  While unquantified, discussions as to why this has occurred have resulted in a number of hypotheses.  As a result of these observations, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in conjunction with the national EMS community, decided to revisit Sections 2.1 and 4.2 of the 1994 EMT-Basic: National Standard Curriculum to determine whether clarification of the material was needed.

A taskforce of the EMS community was convened in February 2002 and they reviewed the curriculum.  They determined that additional clarification could be useful to the instructor.  The attached document was produced and is intended for use by the EMT-Basic instructor to clarify and bring together this information.  This document is not intended to change, modify or revise the current curriculum.  It is intended to offer support material in an alternative format to assist the instructor in the presentation of airway management, oxygenation and ventilation concepts." 

"This is a tool designed to assist EMS instructors with teaching the airway modules found within the 1994 EMT-Basic: National Standard Curriculum. This document supports, but does not replace, sections 2.1 and 4.2 of the EMT-Basic."

2002 Supplemental Airway Modules for the 1994 Emergency Medical Technician-Basic: NSC