Question

While accessing an unresponsive adult who's been pulled from the water, you find the patient has no definitive pulse and occasional gasps. patient has no severe bleeding. Which of the following should you do?

a. give 2 ventilations and begin CPR
b. provide abdominal thrusts
c. open airway and check for breathing
d. place in recovery position

Answer 1

In the scenario provided, the correct action is to a. give 2 ventilations and begin CPR on the unresponsive adult with no definitive pulse and occasional gasps. CPR should be performed with chest compressions at a rate of 100 per minute, and proper training is crucial for effectiveness.

Step-by-step explanation:

When you come across an unresponsive adult who has been pulled from the water and find they have no definitive pulse and occasional gasps, the correct course of action would be to give 2 ventilations and begin CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). The absence of severe bleeding and the presence of gasps, which may be agonal breaths, indicate that CPR is necessary. The current standards call for chest compressions at least 5 cm deep at a rate of 100 compressions per minute, which corresponds to the beat of the song "Staying Alive". This emergency procedure can maintain the flow of blood to vital organs, especially the brain, until professional medical care is available or the heart starts beating spontaneously. It is essential to receive proper training to perform CPR effectively and minimize the risk of additional injury to the patient.