Which elements should be monitored during firefighter rehab to assess airway and respiratory status?

• A. Oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, work of breathing, and signs of inhalation injury; provide oxygen as needed.
• B. Heart rate, blood pressure, glucose level, and capillary refill.
• C. Temperature and urine output only.
• D. Visual assessment of skin color only.

Answer: (A)

Monitoring airway and breathing during firefighter rehab focuses on how well the person is oxygenating and how hard they are working to breathe. The best set includes oxygen saturation, which shows how well blood is carrying oxygen; respiratory rate to gauge breathing pace; work of breathing to assess effort and possible fatigue or airway obstruction; and signs of inhalation injury, such as facial burns, soot in the airway, hoarseness, or coughing up soot, which signal airway damage that can worsen quickly. If readings indicate inadequate oxygenation or increased breathing effort, provide oxygen as needed to keep breathing supported.

Other factors like heart rate and blood pressure, glucose, or capillary refill reflect circulation or metabolic status, not the airway/respiratory status directly. Temperature and urine output are systemic indicators and don’t inform the immediate airway condition. Visual skin color alone is an unreliable proxy for airway health and oxygenation.