EMT- Oxygen Administration

Two conditions that would require oxygen could include:

1.Cardiac Arrest:

-The patient is unconscious and is not breathing, but has a slight pulse. At this point, the body has about 5% Oxygen available which could last about 5 minutes. By the time the EMT arrives, they will need to start compressions which will circulate the oxygen in the body. While doing the compressions, the EMT should maintain correct form with knees by the patient’s side, arms/elbows straight, overlapping hands just above the nipples towards the median, and performing compressions with full recoil of about ½ the diameter of the patient’s torso. They must follow the 30/2 ratio performing 30 compressions with 2 pumps oxygen with the Bag-Valve-Mask (BVM) until the AED is available and ready for activation. Once the AED is placed properly on the patient, then it will stop the heart and any abnormal electrical activity in hopes the body will restart with a regular, stable beating rhythm. Before performing compressions and using the BVM, then the EMT should look to make sure the airway is patent. This could explain why the patient isn’t breathing. For example, maybe the patient choked and that is how they became unconscious, but not in this case. The EMT should also look at the chest and stomach for breathing, listen for breathing, and feel the patient’s pulse. Throughout the EMT’s procedure, they should be examining vital signs to see if there is any progress in the patient’s health.

2.Anxiety

-In the case of anxiety, the patient is experiencing a rapid heart rate which is resulting in limited Carbonic Acid that is supposed to be in the body. If the patient’s respiration rate is above 40/minute, then it is appropriate to use the BVM. By using the Bag-Valve-Mask (BVM), the EMT can force Oxygen and slow the breathing to a breathing pattern appropriate (12-20/minute). While using the BVM, the EMT should talk the patient through the procedure to calm the patient down and communicate that they will be forcing them to take bigger breaths by using this BVM mask and to breathe when instructed in hopes of achieving deeper breaths.

In order to provide an open airway, the EMT can use the Head-Tilt Chin Lift or the Jaw Thrust. The Head-Tilt Chin Lift can be performed on normal patients that aren’t experiencing any trauma like spinal injury, for example. However, the Jaw Thrust is designed specifically for trauma patients to ensure the correct posture of the patient without having to move the neck.