Final answer:
The first action when a victim with a blocked airway becomes unresponsive is to call for emergency medical help, begin chest compressions, and follow CPR protocol.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a victim with a blocked airway becomes unresponsive, the first course of action is to call for emergency medical help and then commence immediate response procedures, which include the steps of the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) protocol. The rescuer should begin with chest compressions to create artificial circulation and attempt to dislodge the blockage. If trained, the rescuer should then open the airway and attempt rescue breaths. If these breaths do not make the chest rise, the obstruction is still present, and the rescuer should alternate between 30 chest compressions and attempts to give 2 rescue breaths until medical help arrives or the object is dislodged and the person begins to breathe. It is critical to act quickly as prolonged oxygen deprivation can lead to brain death and other serious health consequences. If the Heimlich maneuver was previously attempted while the victim was conscious, it should not be retried on an unresponsive person.