What should you do if you encounter an unresponsive patient without pulse or breathing?

When encountering an unresponsive patient without a pulse or breathing, initiating cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately is essential. This action is critical because the patient is in cardiac arrest, and without timely intervention, the chances of survival decrease significantly with every passing moment.

Starting CPR promptly helps maintain blood circulation and oxygenation to vital organs, particularly the brain, which can suffer irreversible damage after only a few minutes without oxygen. Calling for emergency assistance simultaneously ensures that professional medical help is on the way while you provide life-saving measures. CPR combines chest compressions with ventilations to keep the patient alive until advanced medical personnel can take over.

In this scenario, simply waiting for assistance or checking for signs of life again may delay necessary intervention, and delivering rescue breaths only without chest compressions is not recommended in situations where the patient has no pulse, as compressions provide vital circulation. Therefore, option B correctly emphasizes the immediate need for action in response to a life-threatening situation.