What is an important reason for administering emergency oxygen to a drowning victim?

Administering emergency oxygen to a drowning victim is vital because it assists in addressing the critical issue of hypoxia, which is a lack of oxygen in the body. When someone drowns, water may enter the lungs, leading to asphyxiation and a significant decrease in the available oxygen for the body's tissues.

The correct answer points out that human breaths naturally contain more carbon dioxide (CO2) than oxygen (O2). This is significant because the body’s primary need after near-drowning is to replenish oxygen levels swiftly. While our inhaled air contains around 21% oxygen and only about 0.04% carbon dioxide, during a drowning incident, the victim's lungs are compromised in their ability to exchange gases effectively.

As oxygen is essential for cellular respiration and sustaining vital functions, administering supplemental oxygen helps to quickly restore oxygen levels in the bloodstream, supporting critical organs that may be deprived of oxygen due to the drowning event.

In terms of the context of the other options, they emphasize different biological processes but do not directly address the urgency of oxygenation in a drowning scenario. Hyperventilation is often not a primary concern immediately post-drowning. Stabilizing body temperature, while important in some rescue scenarios, is not the