A 76-year-old male has a severe headache after grilling in the garage. What should you administer?

In this scenario, the 76-year-old male has a severe headache following exposure to grilling in a garage, which raises the concern for carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. Grilling indoors can lead to a buildup of CO, which is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause serious health issues, including headaches, confusion, and even loss of consciousness.

Administering oxygen by a non-rebreather mask is the appropriate choice in this situation because it delivers a high concentration of oxygen, which helps displace carbon monoxide from hemoglobin in the blood. This can alleviate symptoms and prevent further complications associated with CO exposure. The use of a non-rebreather mask ensures that the patient receives nearly pure oxygen, maximizing the efficiency of treatment for potential CO poisoning.

Other treatment options, such as ibuprofen or aspirin, do not address the underlying cause of the headache and would not provide the necessary intervention for CO exposure. Oxygen via nasal cannula would deliver insufficient oxygen concentration to effectively treat carbon monoxide poisoning. Thus, the non-rebreather mask is the best choice to manage this critical situation.