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Your rescue team arrives to find a 59-year-old man lying on the kitchen floor. You determine that he is unresponsive and notice that he is taking agonal breaths. What is the next step in your assessment and management of this patient?
Your rescue team arrives to find a 59-year-old man lying on the kitchen floor. You determine that he is unresponsive and notice that he is taking agonal breaths. What is the next step in your assessment and management of this patient?
Final answer:When finding an unresponsive man with agonal breaths, assess for a pulse and if absent, begin CPR and call for emergency medical services. If choking is suspected, perform the Heimlich maneuver. Continue CPR until professional help arrives or an AED is used.Explanation:When encountering a 59-year-old man who is unresponsive with agonal breaths, the next step is to quickly assess if he has a pulse and if CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is needed. If the person does not have a pulse, start CPR immediately, beginning with chest compressions. Agonal breaths are not effective breathing and are a sign of cardiac arrest. Therefore, rescue breathing and chest compressions should be provided. It is critical to call for emergency medical services if this has not already been done. If the victim is suspected to be choking, the Heimlich maneuver should be attempted if they are not breathing adequately or showing signs of effective circulation.If it is established that the patient is not choking and the agonal breathing is due to cardiac arrest, using an automated external defibrillator (AED) is recommended, if available. It is important to continue CPR until the AED is set up and ready for use or until emergency medical services take over....