Patient with hyperventilation. What do you do to manage it?

Correct answer: A. Have the patient cup both hands over their mouth and breathe into them

• A. Correct. Rebreathing exhaled air (e.g., cupped hands over the mouth/nose, similar to paper-bag breathing) helps restore CO2 levels and correct the respiratory alkalosis of hyperventilation.
• B. Giving supplemental oxygen does not address the underlying problem (low CO2/respiratory alkalosis) and may not correct symptoms.
• C. Verbal reassurance alone, without a corrective breathing technique, is an incomplete management strategy for active hyperventilation.