Question

At what point would the EMT consider the administration of oxygen to a patient with abdominal pain?

1) Only if the transport time to the hospital is greater than 30 minutes
2) If the pulse ox dropped below 94 percent
3) Only if the pulse ox drops to 96 percent
4) If the patient stated that the abdominal pain has lasted over 6 hours

Answer 1

An EMT may administer oxygen to a patient with abdominal pain if the pulse oximeter reading falls below 94 percent, which is a clinical indicator of potential hypoxia.

Step-by-step explanation:

When considering the administration of oxygen to a patient with abdominal pain, an EMT may decide to administer oxygen if the patient's pulse oximetry level drops below 94 percent. This is because a pulse oximetry reading below 94 percent can indicate that the tissues are not receiving sufficient oxygen, leading to hypoxia. Pulse oximetry is a non-invasive method that estimates the percent saturation of oxygen in hemoglobin, which is vital for assessing a patient's oxygenation status. Transportation time to the hospital or the duration of pain are not primary indicators for the administration of oxygen.