Your assessment reveals a drooling 48-year-old male to have gurgling speech and left arm paralysis. What should be your priority action?

In this scenario, the priority action is to suction the patient's airway. The presence of drooling, gurgling speech, and left arm paralysis suggests a possible neurological event, such as a stroke, which can compromise the airway due to decreased consciousness or swallowing ability. Gurgling speech indicates that secretions may be pooling in the airway, posing a significant risk of aspiration and potential airway obstruction.

Suctioning the airway immediately removes these secretions, maintaining a clear airway and ensuring that the patient can breathe effectively. This action is crucial, as an unprotected airway is a leading cause of morbidity in patients experiencing such symptoms.

While administering oxygen, preparing for transport, and checking vital signs are important aspects of patient care, they can come after ensuring the airway is clear. If the patient cannot maintain a patent airway due to secretions, their overall condition could rapidly worsen, highlighting the urgency of suctioning. Therefore, addressing the airway takes precedence in this situation.