What immediate action should be taken if a patient is unresponsive and not breathing?

When faced with a patient who is unresponsive and not breathing, the immediate action that should be taken is to begin chest compressions. This step is crucial because it addresses the need to circulate blood throughout the body, especially to vital organs, such as the brain and heart, which can suffer damage after just a few minutes without adequate blood flow.

Starting chest compressions helps to provide a mechanical means of maintaining circulation until advanced medical help arrives or until the patient can be revived. The emphasis on immediate action stems from the understanding that in cases of cardiac arrest or respiratory failure, prompt initiation of chest compressions increases the chances of survival significantly.

While checking for a pulse is a necessary assessment in a full clinical evaluation, it can consume precious time that could be used to start chest compressions — which are essential for maintaining perfusion of vital organs. Calling for emergency backup is also important, but the priority in a life-threatening situation where the patient is unresponsive and not breathing is to initiate chest compressions while ensuring that emergency medical services are on their way. Administering rescue breaths can also be beneficial in the context of providing ventilations; however, in an unresponsive and not breathing scenario, chest compressions take precedence as part of the cardiac arrest