You would MOST likely see an increased end-tidal CO2 reading in an otherwise healthy older adult because:
A) the vital capacity in late adulthood amounts to only 20% of the vital capacity noted in young adulthood.
B) residual volume increases with age, resulting in stagnant air remaining in the alveoli and hampering gas exchange.
C) many older adults experience idiopathic atrophy of the diaphragm and are unable to breathe in adequate tidal volumes.
D) as respiratory muscle mass increases with age, the older adult experiences increasing difficulty with inspiration and expiration.
Answer: B) residual volume increases with age, resulting in stagnant air remaining in the alveoli and hampering gas exchange.
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You respond to a baseball field for a person who was struck by lightning. When you arrive, you see one patient who appears confused and is ambulatory; a second patient who is conscious, sitting on the ground, and holding his arm; and a third patient who is supine and motionless. After requesting additional responders, you should:
A) assess the motionless victim and perform CPR and defibrillation if necessary. B) proceed to the ambulatory patient, sit him down, and assess his mental status. C) treat the conscious patients because the motionless patient is likely deceased. D) assess and begin treating the sitting patient first because he is obviously injured.