Final answer:
If you find an infant who is not breathing, the immediate action should be to assess for a brachial pulse for 5 to 10 seconds and if necessary, commence CPR, focusing on chest compressions and, if trained, rescue breaths.
Step-by-step explanation:
If you arrive at a scene to find an infant who is not breathing, your next action should be to immediately assess for a pulse while preparing to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if necessary. Therefore, the correct answer is: A. assess for a brachial pulse for 5 to 10 seconds. After quickly assessing the pulse, if there is no pulse or if it is too weak, CPR should be started without delay, following the current standards for chest compressions and rescue breaths.
The importance of taking immediate action such as checking for a brachial pulse and initiating CPR is due to the critical nature of oxygenation, especially for the brain. Without oxygen, irreversible brain damage or brain death can occur within minutes. Keeping in mind the Apgar score criteria where respiration and heart rate are among the most important parameters indicative of an infant's condition, swift intervention is necessary.
CPR maintains a flow of oxygenated blood to the brain and other vital organs, providing time until advanced medical help can take over. It involves performing chest compressions to the rhythm of a song like 'Staying Alive' to ensure an adequate rate and depth of compression. In emergencies, high-quality chest compressions are emphasized rather than providing artificial respiration. However, if the infant does not respond to the initial CPR efforts, emergency medical transport to the hospital is vital.