Question

Your patient is a motorcyclist who was ejected after striking a guard rail. The patient is unresponsive to painful stimuli and is breathing shallowly six to eight times per minute. Which of the following should you do​ first?

A. Use a​ bag-valve mask with supplemental oxygen.
B. Apply a cervical collar.
C. Apply a nonrebreather mask with an oxygen flow rate of 15 lpm.
D. Perform a rapid trauma assessment.

Answer 1

The first thing you should do in this scenario is use a bag-valve mask with supplemental oxygen.

Step-by-step explanation:

A bag-valve mask (BVM), also known as an Ambu bag or manual resuscitator, is a medical device used to provide positive pressure ventilation to individuals who are not breathing adequately or are in respiratory distress. The BVM consists of a self-expanding bag, a unidirectional valve, and a face mask. It is commonly used in emergency situations, during resuscitation efforts, and in pre-hospital and hospital settings.

In this scenario, the first thing you should do is use a bag-valve mask with supplemental oxygen. This will provide the patient with the necessary oxygen they need to breathe. It is important to ensure the patient is receiving adequate oxygenation before proceeding to other interventions.