A 23-year-old male experienced severe head trauma after his motorcycle collided with an oncoming truck. He is unconscious, has rapid and shallow breathing, and has copious bloody secretions in his mouth. How should you manage his airway?
A. Suction his oropharynx with a rigid catheter until all secretions are removed.
B. Insert a nasopharyngeal airway and provide suction and assisted ventilations.
C. Alternate 15 seconds of oral suctioning with 2 minutes of assisted ventilation.
D. Provide continuous ventilations with a bag-mask device to minimize hypoxia.
Answer: C. Alternate 15 seconds of oral suctioning with 2 minutes of assisted ventilation.
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