To deliver the highest concentration of oxygen with a nonrebreathing mask, what should you ensure?

To deliver the highest concentration of oxygen with a nonrebreathing mask, ensuring that the reservoir bag is preinflated is essential. A nonrebreathing mask works by allowing the patient to inhale a mix of oxygen from the bag and room air while preventing the exhaled carbon dioxide from entering the bag. When the reservoir bag is preinflated, it provides a large volume of oxygen right away, allowing for rapid delivery of oxygen to the patient.

If the reservoir bag is not inflated beforehand, the patient may not receive an adequate supply of oxygen during their inhalation, as they might draw in ambient air rather than fully utilizing the supplied oxygen. This pre-inflation ensures that the mask delivers a high concentration of oxygen without interruption, which is vital in situations where the patient is experiencing respiratory distress or requires high levels of oxygen for effective treatment.

A tight fit of the mask on the patient is also important to prevent air from leaking in, but it does not alone ensure the highest concentration of oxygen as effectively as proper management of the reservoir bag.