If a child appears unresponsive and is gasping, what is your first step?

When encountering an unresponsive child who is gasping, the immediate first step is to call for Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Gasping is not an effective form of breathing and indicates a critical situation where the child may require advanced medical intervention. Calling for EMS ensures that professional help is on the way while you attend to the child.

After calling for help, the next actions would typically involve assessing the child's breathing more carefully and providing appropriate care, such as chest compressions if there is no effective breathing present. However, the priority must always be ensuring that emergency services are alerted, as they can provide crucial support and resources. It is vital to act quickly in such situations, as the child's condition can deteriorate rapidly without timely intervention.