You arrive on scene to find a 7-year-old boy who is collapsed and apneic. Which of the following is something you should be considering at the EMT level?

In situations where a patient is found collapsed and apneic, the primary concern for an EMT is establishing and maintaining an open airway. An airway adjunct, such as an oropharyngeal airway (OPA) or a nasopharyngeal airway (NPA), is essential in this scenario, particularly because the child is not breathing. The use of an airway adjunct will help ensure that the air passage is unobstructed, promoting effective ventilation.

When a patient is apneic, it is critical to provide artificial ventilation, and airway adjuncts can facilitate this by preventing the tongue from blocking the airway and ensuring that air reaches the lungs. This intervention is crucial before administering any other treatments or considering other problems, as oxygenation and ventilation are fundamental in managing respiratory emergencies.

Other options, while they may be relevant in different clinical scenarios, do not address the immediate need to secure the airway and promote ventilation for this apneic patient.