You are participating in a training exercise for an attack by a weapon of mass destruction involving the release of a nerve agent. In the triage area, you are presented with a patient who responds to painful stimuli and has an open airway. He is breathing 8 times a minute and has a weak radial pulse. He is wheezing and has pinpoint pupils. In his pocket is located a metered-dose inhaler containing albuterol. When caring for this patient, you should first:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Administering positive pressure ventilation is the first step in caring for a patient with a breathing rate of 8 times a minute, which indicates inadequate ventilation, especially in the context of a nerve agent attack. Albuterol would not address the primary issue of inadequate oxygenation due to the effects of the nerve agent.

You Are Participating in a Training Exercise for an Attack