Your patient is a young man who fell down a flight of stairs and is now restless and confused. His airway is open, and he is breathing adequately at 18 times per minute. He has a radial pulse of 92 beats per minute and his skin is cool and diaphoretic. Your next action would be to:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient is displaying signs of shock with a rapid heart rate, cool skin, and sweating. Administration of supplemental oxygen can help improve oxygenation and reduce the workload on the heart, potentially improving his condition. Checking the blood pressure would also be important, but administering oxygen should be the priority. Inserting an airway or immobilizing the patient may not be necessary at this time as his airway is open and he does not have any apparent spinal injuries.

Your Patient Is a Young Man Who Fell Down a Flight