What should you do if a resident suddenly becomes unresponsive?

• A. Leave the resident to find help.
• B. Begin CPR without checking breathing.
• C. Call supervisor immediately without checking.
• D. Check for breathing, call for help, begin CPR if trained, place the resident in a safe position, continue monitoring.

Answer: (D)

When someone suddenly becomes unresponsive, the priority is to act quickly in a simple, organized sequence: check for breathing and responsiveness, call for help, and start CPR if you are trained, while keeping the person safe and continuing to monitor.

First, you check whether the person is responsive and whether they are breathing normally. If there is no normal breathing, you should call for help immediately and begin CPR if you are trained to do so. While you’re doing this, place the resident in a safe position to protect the airway and prevent injury, and continue to monitor their status until help arrives. If the person regains breathing, you would still keep them in a safe position and monitor them until EMS takes over.

This approach ensures you don’t delay life-saving care by waiting for more help, and it emphasizes maintaining airway and circulation while help is on the way.