What is the primary action to take when arriving at an unresponsive patient?

When you arrive at an unresponsive patient, the primary action is to ensure scene safety, assess responsiveness, and call for assistance. This approach is critical because the initial priority is to ensure that the environment is secure for both the patient and the responder. A safe scene allows you to operate without additional risks, such as traffic, fire, or other hazards.

Assessing the responsiveness is also a vital step. It helps determine the patient's condition and whether immediate medical intervention, such as CPR or use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), is required. If the patient is not responsive, this may indicate a critical situation that needs urgent action. Calling for assistance alerts additional responders who can provide support or follow-up care.

Checking for a medical ID bracelet could provide useful information, but it should come after securing the scene and assessing the patient's condition. Performing CPR immediately is appropriate only if the patient is unresponsive and not breathing normally or at all, which would follow the initial assessment. Placing the patient in a recovery position is also beneficial if they are breathing and have no suspected spinal injury; however, it is not the first action to take when the patient's responsiveness and immediate safety have not been established. Thus, ensuring scene safety, assessing responsiveness, and