Deana Ceal is a WINNER!

Deana knew the answer to the last contest question. This one was pretty basic but the ER docs have seen several transports where the Oxygen delivery has been inappropriate. To quote Deana, "NEVER DEPRIVE A PATIENT OF OXYGEN REGARDLESS OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DIAGNOSIS". So, if your patient is having difficulty breathing, complaining of shortness of breath, etc., they need to be on high flow oxygen. Apparently somewhere in our training there was given the impression that COPD patients can have their drive to breath "knocked out" by giving them high flow oxygen and this was a reason to place them on minimum flow or not to give oxygen at all. It is mentioned only as a reason to monitor your COPD patient even closer. If indeed your patient fails to breath you will treat them just as you would any other patient who is not breathing; either by bagging them or if that fails, and you are qualified, by intubating. Never deprive their brain and vital organs of the oxygen they need!