A motorcycle accident victim presents with massive bleeding. What is the first action a respiratory therapist should take?

In a situation where a motorcycle accident victim is presenting with massive bleeding, the priority is to ensure adequate oxygenation and perfusion to mitigate the life-threatening effects of potential hypoxia due to blood loss. The decision to place the patient on oxygen at an FIO2 of 1.0, or 100% oxygen, is crucial in this context.

Providing high-flow oxygen can significantly improve the oxygen saturation of the blood, even when overall blood volume may be critically low due to bleeding. The immediate administration of supplemental oxygen can help to ensure that the body's tissues and vital organs receive the oxygen they need in the face of compromised blood supply.

In this scenario, the other actions, while potentially important later in the patient's care, do not address the immediate need for oxygenation. Blood type evaluation can be important for potential transfusion, but it is not an immediate action to support the patient’s oxygenation. A CT scan of the head may be necessary to assess for head injuries, but it does not address acute respiratory needs. Monitoring the respiratory rate may provide information on the patient's status but does not actively intervene to correct any hypoxemia that may arise from massive bleeding. Therefore, initiating oxygen therapy with a high fraction of inspired oxygen is the most