A patient was trapped in a burning apartment before being rescued by firefighters. As you approach him, you note that his legs and arms are burned. He is screaming in pain and coughing, but no longer actively burning. Given this information, what intervention would you perform first?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient is coughing, indicating possible respiratory distress due to inhalation of smoke and/or other toxic agents. Administering oxygen with a bag-valve mask would allow for better ventilation and oxygenation. The other options (performing a secondary assessment, estimating percentage of body burned, and determining depth of burns) are important steps in managing burn patients, but addressing the patient's immediate respiratory distress takes priority.

A Patient Was Trapped in a Burning Apartment Before Being