Chicago Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Practice Exam

Administering enough oxygen to keep the pulse oximeter reading over 94 percent is important in managing patients who have ingested a poisonous plant. In conscious patients, ensuring that oxygen saturation is maintained at a safe level helps prevent hypoxia, which can exacerbate the toxic effects of the plant ingestion.

The 94 percent threshold serves as a clinical benchmark indicating adequate oxygenation without over-saturating the patient, which could lead to oxygen toxicity or other complications. Monitoring the pulse oximetry helps in adjusting the oxygen delivery as needed, making this approach more responsive to the patient's condition.

In contrast, fixed flow rates like those seen in other choices do not account for the individual variability in patient response and could potentially lead to inadequate oxygenation or unnecessary complications. Adjusting to maintain a certain pulse oximetry level allows for more tailored care based on real-time assessments of the patient.