What should you do if a patient is choking and becomes unresponsive?

When a patient is choking and becomes unresponsive, the first action to take is to activate emergency services and begin CPR. This response is essential because the loss of responsiveness indicates that the airway is completely obstructed, and the patient is unable to breathe or maintain circulation.

By activating emergency services, you ensure that professional medical help is on the way, while starting CPR allows you to provide vital assistance. The compressions during CPR not only help maintain blood circulation to vital organs but can also help create pressure in the chest that may dislodge an object obstructing the airway. When performing CPR, it is crucial to check the airway after ensuring that the chest compressions are being performed effectively. If an object is visible, it may be removed, but this should be done with caution to avoid pushing it further down the airway.

Other methods, such as performing the Heimlich maneuver or providing back blows, are effective only if the person is still responsive. In the case of unresponsiveness, these techniques cannot be performed safely or effectively, which is why beginning CPR and calling for emergency assistance is the appropriate response.