A 6-year-old male has a decreased level of consciousness. His mother states that they do not have health insurance so they did not take him to the hospital last week when he started vomiting and had copious amounts of diarrhea. She continues by stating that he has not had anything to eat or drink since then. He has snoring respirations that are rapid and inadequate. His radial pulse cannot be located, and his carotid pulse is rapid and weak. His capillary refill is 5 seconds and his skin is cool to the touch. Your first intervention in caring for this child would be:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The child's decreased level of consciousness, snoring respirations, and inadequate breathing suggest airway obstruction, which is the immediate priority. The head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver is the appropriate intervention to open the airway and ensure adequate oxygenation.

A 6-Year-Old Male Has a Decreased Level of Consciousness