An unresponsive 16-year-old male has snoring respirations after nearly drowning. What should you do?

Prepare for the FISDAP EMT Airway Test with our comprehensive quiz. Sharpen your skills with flashcards and multiple-choice questions, detailed hints and explanations ensure you're exam-ready!

Multiple Choice

An unresponsive 16-year-old male has snoring respirations after nearly drowning. What should you do?

Securing an airway is the priority when an unresponsive patient shows signs of airway obstruction. Snoring respirations in an unconscious drowning patient usually mean the tongue and soft tissues are partially blocking the airway. An oropharyngeal airway helps keep the airway open by preventing the tongue from collapsing back and allows effective ventilation with a bag‑valve mask and oxygen. So start by opening the airway with the appropriate maneuver, then insert the airway adjunct to maintain patency and ventilate. Monitor for vomiting or aspiration and suction as needed. Reserve chest compressions for when there is no pulse, and obtain vital signs as you can after the airway is secured.

Securing an airway is the priority when an unresponsive patient shows signs of airway obstruction. Snoring respirations in an unconscious drowning patient usually mean the tongue and soft tissues are partially blocking the airway. An oropharyngeal airway helps keep the airway open by preventing the tongue from collapsing back and allows effective ventilation with a bag‑valve mask and oxygen.

So start by opening the airway with the appropriate maneuver, then insert the airway adjunct to maintain patency and ventilate. Monitor for vomiting or aspiration and suction as needed. Reserve chest compressions for when there is no pulse, and obtain vital signs as you can after the airway is secured.

More practice questions