Firefighters have pulled a 62-year-old male from a bedroom that was on fire. According to the firefighters, he was smoking in bed and fell asleep. They found him supine on the floor. Assessment reveals him to be responsive to painful stimuli with soot in his airway. He is breathing rapidly, but has no evidence of burns to his body. His pulse is 124 beats per minute, respirations are 24, blood pressure is 146/90 mmHg, and SpO₂ 95%. After providing the appropriate care, what question would be the most important to ask the firefighters prior to transport?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Knowing how long the patient was trapped in the room can give insight into the extent of smoke exposure and potential lung damage. This information can guide initial management and help predict possible complications during transport. Knowing how the fire started or what materials were burning can be helpful but is not as pertinent to immediate management of the patient. Breathing rate was already assessed in the initial assessment.

Firefighters Have Pulled a 62-Year-Old Male from a Bedroom That