What should an EMT confirm before administering oxygen?

Before administering oxygen, it is crucial for an EMT to confirm that the highest flow rate is set based on the patient's needs. This ensures that the patient receives the appropriate amount of oxygen to effectively address their medical condition. Different situations, such as respiratory distress, obstructive airway conditions, or other medical emergencies, can require varying levels of oxygen delivery. Setting the flow rate based on the individual patient's requirements helps to optimize therapy and can be life-saving.

In the context of oxygen administration, the other options, while they may seem relevant, do not pertain directly to the most critical action an EMT should take prior to providing oxygen therapy. For instance, while safety considerations regarding the oxygen source are important, this primarily ensures the supply chain and environment are safe rather than addressing patient-specific delivery. Patient allergies to oxygen are not a concern, as oxygen is not an allergenic substance, and expiration dates typically apply to medications rather than gases like oxygen, making those choices less pertinent in the direct context of administering oxygen therapy effectively.