New York State Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practice Exam

For a 66-year-old man in respiratory distress with 80% oxygen saturation, what should you do?

1. Attempt to insert an oropharyngeal airway

2. Assist his ventilations with a bag-mask device

3. Apply a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device

4. Apply high-flow oxygen via nonrebreathing mask

The correct answer is: Assist his ventilations with a bag-mask device

Choosing to assist the patient's ventilations with a bag-mask device is appropriate in this scenario. The patient is experiencing respiratory distress and has a low oxygen saturation of 80%, indicating inadequate oxygenation. Assisting with a bag-mask device allows the EMT to provide positive pressure ventilation, helping to ensure that the patient receives adequate oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange. When the patient has a significantly low oxygen saturation, it often means they are not adequately moving air in and out of their lungs or have compromised respiratory function. Assisting ventilations directly addresses the immediate problem of hypoxia, and using the bag-mask device effectively can improve the patient’s oxygen levels quickly by delivering a higher concentration of oxygen. In situations of respiratory distress, ensuring that the airway is open and ventilations are adequate is crucial, especially with such low oxygen saturation. Other interventions, while potentially beneficial in certain contexts, may not directly address the immediate need for improved ventilation and oxygenation as effectively as using a bag-mask device in this scenario.