Medical, OB/GYNQuestion 81 of 100

A patient with a possible opioid overdose has slow, shallow breathing. The EMT's first priority is to:

a.Give oral glucose
b.Give aspirin
c.Support ventilation and oxygenation with a bag-valve mask
d.Encourage the patient to walk it off

Explanation

The immediate life threat in opioid overdose is respiratory depression, so support ventilation with a BVM and oxygen. Naloxone may be administered per protocol, but airway and breathing come first.

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