Which of the following should you prioritize if you find someone who is unresponsive and shows agonal breathing?

When encountering someone who is unresponsive and exhibiting agonal breathing, the most crucial step is to start chest compressions immediately. Agonal breathing is often a sign of severe distress or impending cardiac arrest, and it indicates that the person is not breathing adequately.

Initiating chest compressions is essential because it helps maintain blood circulation to vital organs, particularly the brain and heart, by manually pumping blood through the body. This step is part of the basic sequence of CPR, which emphasizes the importance of restoring circulation as quickly as possible.

Checking for injuries, administering oxygen, or monitoring the heart rate, while important in other contexts, do not address the immediate life-threatening situation presented by unresponsiveness and agonal breathing. In such scenarios, swift action to perform chest compressions ensures a higher chance of survival and lays the foundation for further emergency interventions, such as the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) or advanced medical care once emergency responders arrive.