You are on the scene of a 16-year-old patient in respiratory distress. The patient has a history of asthma. After placing the patient on oxygen and performing the primary and secondary assessments, you are confident that the patient is indeed having an asthma attack. How can you be sure your field diagnosis is accurate?

A) Keep your EMT textbook with you on the ambulance and review it to confirm your diagnosis.
B) Think of all possible causes of respiratory distress and rule them in or out as potential diagnoses based on your clinical findings.
C) Ask your partner her opinion; if she also agrees that it is asthma, the diagnosis is correct.
D) Constantly reassess the patient to make sure you are correct.

B

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