Which of the following symptoms would indicate the need for immediate oxygen administration?

The symptoms of lethargy and shortness of breath indicate a potential lack of adequate oxygenation in the body, which could signal respiratory distress or failure. When a person shows lethargy, it suggests decreased responsiveness or alertness, which may be due to insufficient oxygen supply to the brain. Shortness of breath, on the other hand, is a clear sign that the individual is struggling to get enough air, which could lead to hypoxemia (low levels of oxygen in the blood).

In an emergency context, both of these symptoms combined necessitate immediate intervention, as they suggest a critical situation where the patient may be unable to maintain adequate oxygen levels on their own. Administering oxygen can help restore oxygen saturation and improve the patient’s overall condition, preventing further deterioration.

Other symptoms, while they may suggest different medical issues, do not indicate the urgent need for oxygen administration like lethargy and shortness of breath do. For example, normal breath sounds and alertness suggest that a person is stable, while high blood pressure and a rapid pulse rate can be responses to stress, anxiety, or other conditions that might not directly indicate immediate oxygen requirements.