Final answer:
A patient with abdominal injuries from a crash requires oxygen to maintain cellular respiration for ATP production. Administering 100% oxygen also combats carbon monoxide poisoning by displacing the gas from hemoglobin. In extreme blood loss, saline or artificial blood can temporarily substitute for red blood cells to carry oxygen.
Step-by-step explanation:
A patient involved in an auto crash with major internal abdominal injuries requires oxygen to maintain internal respiration because every cell in the body needs oxygen to run the oxidative stages of cellular respiration. This process is crucial for the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the energy currency of the cell. Administering 100 percent oxygen is particularly important in medical emergencies such as carbon monoxide poisoning, where oxygen competes with carbon monoxide for binding to hemoglobin, thereby displacing the poisonous gas and allowing normal respiratory function to resume. Providing carbon dioxide would not work because it is a waste product of respiration, and its accumulation in the blood triggers the urge to breathe, rather than supplying the necessary oxygen.
For patients with severe bleeding and traumatic injuries, like in a vehicle accident, the respiratory system may be compromised, necessitating oxygen-enriched air to support bodily functions during shock or other conditions limiting sufficient oxygen delivery. Moreover, when type O blood is not immediately available for transfusion, medical response might include administering a saline solution to at least replace some of the blood volume lost, providing immediate fluid support until a proper blood transfusion can be arranged or artificial blood substitutes that contain oxygen carriers can be used.