What should be done if a problem with the ventilator cannot be identified immediately?

In situations where a ventilator malfunction occurs and the issue cannot be immediately identified, the safest course of action is to hand ventilate the patient with a self-inflating bag. This approach ensures that the patient continues to receive adequate ventilation and oxygenation while the problem is being assessed. The self-inflating bag allows for manual control of ventilation, which is crucial in maintaining the patient's respiratory needs and preventing hypoxia or respiratory distress.

Continuing with regular ventilator settings without knowing the cause of the problem could compromise patient safety if the ventilator is malfunctioning. Checking connections might not address deeper issues that could affect ventilation, and waiting for a technician to troubleshoot the equipment could lead to critical delays in patient care. Therefore, the immediate priority is to maintain ventilation through manual methods until the ventilator can be safely assessed and repaired.