If a choking victim becomes unresponsive, what is the next step?

When a choking victim becomes unresponsive, the appropriate next step is to initiate CPR while also ensuring that emergency services are alerted. By sending someone to call for help, you are effectively mobilizing additional resources to assist the victim. Starting CPR immediately is crucial because it maintains blood circulation and can help expel the blockage from the airway, especially in cases where the person has lost consciousness.

In this situation, administering back blows or attempting to clear the airway with other immediate techniques would not be effective since the victim is unresponsive. Checking for a pulse may also delay crucial interventions; time is of the essence when someone is not breathing. Performing rescue breaths alone does not address the underlying issue of airway obstruction, and without first ensuring someone has called for help, the victim may not receive the needed assistance promptly. Therefore, combining CPR with contacting emergency services represents the best practice for managing this critical situation.