What should be done if a victim is unconscious and not breathing?

When a victim is unconscious and not breathing, the immediate priority is to ensure their safety and provide the necessary medical assistance. Calling emergency services is critical, as professional medical help needs to be on the way as soon as possible. Starting CPR provides an essential intervention that can maintain blood flow and oxygen delivery to vital organs until help arrives.

Initiating CPR involves giving chest compressions and, if trained, providing rescue breaths. This intervention is crucial because it can significantly increase the chances of survival and reduce the risk of permanent damage due to lack of oxygen. The focus is not only on alerting emergency services but also on taking action to preserve the victim's life until professional aid is available.

In this context, other actions such as waiting for consciousness to return, simply checking for a pulse, or performing abdominal thrusts are not appropriate responses. Waiting for the victim to regain consciousness could lead to fatal outcomes, checking for a pulse may distract from the immediate need for resuscitation, and abdominal thrusts are indicated for cases of choking rather than unresponsive individuals. Therefore, the best course of action is to call emergency services and begin CPR immediately.