If a patient is in respiratory arrest, what should be the immediate priority action?

In the scenario of a patient experiencing respiratory arrest, the immediate priority action should be to provide ventilations. Respiratory arrest indicates that the patient is not breathing adequately or at all, which can lead to a rapid decline in oxygen levels and eventual cardiac arrest if not addressed promptly.

Providing ventilations ensures that oxygen is delivered to the lungs and, subsequently, to the rest of the body. This action is crucial for maintaining oxygenation of vital organs, particularly the brain, which is very sensitive to hypoxia. Effective ventilations can help to sustain the patient's life until further advanced medical care can be provided or until the patient resumes spontaneous breathing.

While performing other actions, such as administering medications or checking the pulse, may be important in other contexts, they do not address the immediate need for oxygenation in a patient who is not breathing. Thus, the priority remains on providing ventilations to mitigate the risks associated with lack of oxygen.