What does "Oxygen therapy" refer to in an EMS context?

In the context of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), oxygen therapy refers specifically to the administration of supplemental oxygen to improve a patient's oxygen saturation and breathing. This is a critical intervention during medical emergencies where a patient may be experiencing respiratory distress or hypoxia—conditions characterized by reduced oxygen levels in the blood. Administering supplemental oxygen helps to increase the availability of oxygen to vital organs and tissues, thereby enhancing cellular function and overall patient outcomes.

The accurate application of oxygen therapy is pivotal in various scenarios, including respiratory illnesses, trauma, cardiac conditions, and more. EMS providers assess patients’ oxygen saturation levels using pulse oximetry to determine the need for supplemental oxygen. This intervention is not limited to emergency circumstances but is routinely used whenever a patient’s oxygenation status requires support.

In contrast to the incorrect options, oxygen therapy is not intended to induce sleep, treat allergy symptoms, or be reserved only for emergencies. Each of those options reflects uses of oxygen that do not align with the primary objective of oxygen therapy as practiced in EMS.