What should be readily available for managing respiratory arrest in MSK trauma cases?

In managing respiratory arrest, particularly in cases involving musculoskeletal trauma, having resuscitative equipment and naloxone readily available is crucial. Resuscitative equipment includes essential tools such as bags for positive pressure ventilation, oxygen supply, and airway adjuncts to assist with maintaining or restoring the patient's airway and ensuring effective ventilation.

Additionally, naloxone is an opioid antagonist that can be vital when the respiratory arrest is suspected to be caused by opioid overdose. Given that trauma patients may have various underlying conditions or may have received opioids for pain management, having naloxone on hand can facilitate a prompt response to reverse respiratory depression due to opioid overdose.

While a patient’s medical records can provide important background information and over-the-counter medications may be useful in specific contexts, they do not directly support immediate interventions in a respiratory emergency. A crash cart, while essential in many cases of medical emergencies, does not encompass the broader range of resuscitative tools specifically necessary for addressing respiratory arrest, especially in the context of MSK trauma. Thus, the correct choice focuses on the immediate tools needed for effective respiratory management.