An unconscious 26-year-old male with agonal respirations is trapped in a car after a high-speed crash. What should you do first?

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Multiple Choice

An unconscious 26-year-old male with agonal respirations is trapped in a car after a high-speed crash. What should you do first?

Prioritize airway and breathing. An unconscious trauma patient with agonal respirations is not adequately ventilating, so the first step is to reassess and open the airway to maximize ventilation. Use a jaw‑thrust to protect the spine, clear the airway as needed, and provide assisted ventilation with a bag‑valve mask. If you can ventilate and there is a pulse, continue ventilations and monitor; if there is no pulse, begin CPR immediately. Do not delay airway management to move the patient or perform other tasks, and stabilize the airway while planning extrication and transport.

Prioritize airway and breathing. An unconscious trauma patient with agonal respirations is not adequately ventilating, so the first step is to reassess and open the airway to maximize ventilation. Use a jaw‑thrust to protect the spine, clear the airway as needed, and provide assisted ventilation with a bag‑valve mask. If you can ventilate and there is a pulse, continue ventilations and monitor; if there is no pulse, begin CPR immediately. Do not delay airway management to move the patient or perform other tasks, and stabilize the airway while planning extrication and transport.

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