An alarm sounds on a mechanical ventilator. What should you do first? Tell the nurse. Shut off the…

➤ How do I quickly assess the patient when a ventilator alarm goes off?
Use a quick systematic check: look, listen, and feel. Observe chest rise, skin color, and breathing effort. Listen for breath sounds and ventilator cycling. Check tubing, connections, pulse oximetry, and the ventilator display for alarm type. If the patient is apneic or unstable, remove from the ventilator and ventilate manually while calling for assistance.