A 71-year-old male shows signs of accessory muscle use and has poor oxygen saturation. What should you do?

Assisting ventilation is particularly important in this scenario because the patient is showing signs of respiratory distress, indicated by the use of accessory muscles, and has poor oxygen saturation levels. When a patient is in respiratory distress and struggles to maintain adequate ventilation, it often leads to hypoventilation or inadequate airflow, resulting in decreased oxygen levels in the blood.

By assisting ventilation, you can help ensure that the patient is receiving an appropriate volume of air, which can improve their oxygen saturation more effectively than simply administering oxygen alone. This can be achieved through methods such as supplemental oxygen delivery or mechanical assistance like bag-mask ventilation.

The choice to assist ventilation directly addresses the underlying issue of inadequate airflow, thereby providing a more immediate and potentially life-saving intervention in such a critical situation.