After opening the airway, what should be done next?

After opening the airway, the next step is to check for breathing and pulse. This is a critical action because it allows you to assess the patient’s immediate condition. The primary objective in any emergency situation is to determine if the victim is breathing adequately and to ensure that circulation is present. Checking for breathing involves looking for chest rise and fall, listening for breath sounds, and feeling for air movement from the mouth or nose.

If the patient is breathing effectively and has a pulse, you can proceed to monitor their condition and provide reassurance. If the individual is not breathing or does not have a pulse, that immediately necessitates starting CPR. This assessment is crucial as it informs the rescuer about how to proceed – whether to administer rescue breaths, initiate chest compressions, or take other required steps.

Taking a short break would not yield any benefit in this emergency situation, as every second is vital in assessing and addressing the patient's needs. Immediately performing CPR without checking for breathing and pulse could lead to unnecessary complications or miss vital information about the patient's status. Similarly, calling for additional help is typically done as part of the process if the situation escalates, but it should not take precedence over assessing the patient first after airway management.