During your assessment of an athlete who appears to be anxious, you note tracheal deviation. The athlete becomes hypotensive, loses consciousness, and is not breathing adequately. Which of the following steps should be taken to assist this athlete?
A) Emergency medical services (EMS) should be activated immediately.
B) Assist with respirations using a bag valve mask (BVM).
C) Needle decompression should be performed.
D) All of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Tracheal deviation, hypotension, loss of consciousness, and inadequate breathing suggest a life-threatening condition such as a tension pneumothorax. Immediate activation of EMS (A) is crucial for advanced medical support. Assisting with respirations using a BVM (B) is necessary to support breathing. Needle decompression (C) may be required to relieve pressure from a tension pneumothorax, but it should be performed by trained medical personnel. Therefore, all of the above steps (D) are appropriate actions to take in this scenario.

During Your Assessment of an Athlete Who Appears to Be