Final answer:
The first step when a patient is found unconscious is to call emergency services immediately, followed by starting CPR. This ensures that professional help is on its way while the CMA administers lifesaving chest compressions to maintain blood flow, particularly to the brain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The first step a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) should take when a patient is found unconscious is to call emergency services immediately. If the CMA begins CPR without notifying emergency services, critical time is lost. Once help is notified, the CMA should then proceed to start CPR. This protocol ensures that help is on the way while lifesaving measures are being initiated.
CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a crucial procedure used when the heart stops beating. It involves chest compressions at least 5 cm deep and at a rate of 100 compressions per minute to manually circulate blood to vital organs, especially the brain, to reduce the risk of irreversible damage or death of neurons.
In emergency situations like drowning, the immediate goal is to remove the individual from the water to perform effective CPR. This increases the chances of recovery, particularly if the airway is protected and CPR is started swiftly. Similarly, for conditions like choking or stroke, identifying the signs early and acting quickly by calling for help is imperative to improve the chances of positive outcomes.