A 61-year-old male has fallen off a roof. Your primary assessment findings include unresponsiveness, agonal breathing, and a slow and weak radial pulse. His skin is cool and dry. Emergency Medical Responders are maintaining manual in-line spinal stabilization. Which one of the following would you do immediately?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The patient is in cardiac arrest with agonal breathing and a weak pulse, so positive pressure ventilation should be initiated immediately to provide oxygen to the brain and other vital organs. The other interventions, such as sizing and applying a cervical collar, placing the patient in the shock position, and transferring to the stretcher for rapid transport, may be necessary but should be done after initiating positive pressure ventilation.

A 61-Year-Old Male Has Fallen Off a Roof