You are dispatched to transport a patient who was pulled from a pool after being submerged for several minutes. The patient is unconscious, has a weak pulse, and is breathing spontaneously, but with noticeable difficulty. What is the most appropriate initial intervention for managing this patient during transport?
Conduct a thorough spinal assessment before proceeding with further treatment.
Initiate IV fluid therapy to manage hypotension.
Place the patient in a left lateral position to prevent aspiration.
Administer high-flow oxygen and prepare for potential intubation.
In submersion injuries, maintaining an open airway and ensuring adequate oxygenation is crucial. Administering high-flow oxygen helps mitigate hypoxia, a common complication. Given the patient's unconscious state and breathing difficulty, continually monitoring oxygen saturation and being prepared to intubate if conditions worsen is essential. IV fluids might be useful in specific cases, but they are not the immediate priority if the airway and oxygenation are compromised. Checking for spinal injuries is important, but not the first step in this scenario.
Ask Bash
Bash is our AI bot, trained to help you pass your exam. AI Generated Content may display inaccurate information, always double-check anything important.
Why is hypoxia such a critical concern in submersion injuries?
Open an interactive chat with Bash
When is intubation necessary in submersion injury cases?
Open an interactive chat with Bash
Why is spinal assessment not the first step in this scenario?
Open an interactive chat with Bash
BCEN CFRN
Medical Emergencies
Your Score:
Report Issue
Bash, the Crucial Exams Chat Bot
AI Bot
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Pass with Confidence.
Nursing and Medical Assistants Package
You have hit the limits of our free tier, become a Premium Member today for unlimited access.
Military, Healthcare worker, Gov. employee or Teacher? See if you qualify for a Community Discount.
Monthly
$9.99
$9.99/mo
Billed monthly, Cancel any time.
3 Month Pass
$14.99
$4.99/mo
One time purchase of $14.99, Does not auto-renew.
BEST DEAL
Lifetime Pass
$29.99
One time purchase, Good for life.
What You Get
All Nursing and Medical Assistants Package plans include the following perks and exams .