For a casualty with a radial pulse, which IV method is typically used?

• A. Saline lock
• B. Direct line IV
• C. IV push
• D. Intraosseous

Answer: (A)

When a casualty has a palpable radial pulse, venous access is feasible but not necessarily urgent for rapid fluid administration. The best option in this situation is to establish IV access and leave it in a capped, saline-filled state so the line remains patent without delivering fluids immediately. This saline lock (heparin/saline-locked cannula) allows you to secure a ready route for future therapy while avoiding unnecessary ongoing infusion in a patient who is still perfused and not in immediate need of fluids.

This approach is advantageous because you gain reliable access quickly and can attach fluids or medications as the patient’s condition evolves, without committing to an immediate large-volume infusion. If the patient’s status worsens and rapid IV administration becomes necessary, you can rapidly connect to the line or switch to a continuous infusion.

The other options are less fitting here: a direct line IV implies an ongoing infusion is already set up, which isn’t required if the patient is currently perfused; IV push is a method for giving a rapid dose of medication and isn’t about maintaining access for future use; intraosseous is typically reserved for situations where IV access cannot be obtained, which isn’t indicated when a radial pulse is present.