For which conditions is oxygen therapy indicated?

Oxygen therapy is specifically indicated for conditions such as hypoxia and respiratory distress because it serves to increase the amount of oxygen available to the body when levels are insufficient. Hypoxia refers to a deficiency in the amount of oxygen reaching the tissues, which can result from various medical emergencies, including respiratory conditions, cardiac events, or trauma. By administering oxygen, EMTs help to alleviate the symptoms associated with low oxygen levels, such as confusion, shortness of breath, and cyanosis. This intervention is vital in improving patient outcomes and is a fundamental aspect of pre-hospital care.

In the context of this question, the other conditions listed—pregnancy and labor, severe headaches, and allergic reactions—may require different types of medical management or intervention that do not primarily focus on oxygen therapy as an immediate treatment. Each of these conditions can involve considerations for oxygen use, but they do not directly indicate the necessity of oxygen therapy in the same immediate and critical way that hypoxia and respiratory distress do.