Final answer:
Colorimetric CO2 detectors turn yellow when CO2 is exhaled, confirming the ET tube is in the trachea.
Step-by-step explanation:
Colorimetric CO2 detectors are used during endotracheal intubation to confirm that the endotracheal tube (ET tube) is properly placed within the trachea and not in the esophagus. When a patient exhales CO2 through the correctly placed ET tube, the chemical indicator in the colorimetric CO2 detector undergoes a color change. This change is key to confirming the appropriate placement of the ET tube.
The chemical indicator present in the colorimetric CO2 detector transforms to yellow upon detecting exhaled CO2, confirming successful intubation.