What is the appropriate treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning?

High flow oxygen is the appropriate treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning because it helps to rapidly displace carbon monoxide from hemoglobin, the molecule in red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen. Carbon monoxide binds with hemoglobin much more effectively than oxygen does, forming carboxyhemoglobin, which impairs the blood's ability to carry oxygen to tissues. By administering high flow oxygen, the partial pressure of oxygen in the patient’s bloodstream is increased, which aids in the elimination of carbon monoxide and significantly reduces the half-life of carbon monoxide in the body.

The other treatments listed are not effective in managing carbon monoxide poisoning. Cold compresses may provide symptomatic relief for external injuries or heat-related illnesses, but they do not address the underlying issue of carbon monoxide binding in the body. Administering activated charcoal is appropriate for certain types of poisoning (like with certain drugs), but it is not effective for carbon monoxide as the toxin is quickly absorbed into the bloodstream. Immediate surgery is not a standard treatment for carbon monoxide poisoning and is reserved for other emergencies that do not pertain to the gas's effects. Thus, high flow oxygen is the specific and most effective method for treating this type of poisoning.