What action should you take if a non-rebreather mask's reservoir bag is completely deflating for a responsive person who is anxious and breathing rapidly?

When faced with a situation where the reservoir bag of a non-rebreather mask is completely deflating for a responsive person who is anxious and breathing rapidly, increasing the flow rate until the reservoir bag slightly inflates is the appropriate action to take. The purpose of a non-rebreather mask is to deliver high concentrations of oxygen to a patient; thus, the reservoir bag must remain partially inflated to ensure that there is a sufficient supply of oxygen available between breaths.

In anxious individuals who are breathing rapidly, their demand for oxygen may exceed the current flow rate being administered, leading to the rapid deflation of the reservoir bag. By increasing the flow rate, you ensure that the patient receives adequate oxygen during inhalation, thus preventing the bag from completely collapsing. This helps maintain oxygen saturation levels and meets the physiological needs of the patient effectively.

While encouraging the person to breathe slower may be beneficial for managing anxiety and improving comfort, it does not directly address the immediate concern of providing sufficient oxygen. Similarly, decreasing the flow rate would exacerbate the issue, as would replacing the mask with a nasal cannula, which is less effective in delivering high concentrations of oxygen.