A 45-year-old male has a sudden severe headache and is unable to hold his arm out. What should you do?

In this scenario, the 45-year-old male's sudden severe headache and inability to hold his arm out are indicative of a potential stroke or neurological emergency. The symptoms suggest that there could be an acute disruption in blood flow to the brain, possibly indicating a hemorrhagic stroke or an ischemic stroke. Prompt treatment and intervention are crucial in such cases.

Notifying the receiving hospital of your findings is vital because stroke management requires a specialized protocol. The hospital must be prepared for the patient’s arrival, particularly if thrombolytic therapy or other interventions will be needed. This early communication ensures that the medical team can evaluate the patient quickly upon arrival and potentially administer life-saving treatments in a timely manner, which is crucial for minimizing neurological damage and improving outcomes.

While administering oxygen is sometimes necessary in emergencies, it is not an immediate priority in this case unless the patient shows signs of respiratory distress. Oral glucose would be appropriate if the patient were suspected to have hypoglycemia, which does not align with the symptoms presented. Administering aspirin may be indicated in some cases of stroke, particularly for ischemic strokes; however, doing so prior to confirming the diagnosis and notifying the receiving hospital could lead to complications if the stroke is hemorrhagic. Thus, the