What is the appropriate response if a child is unresponsive and you did not witness the collapse?

The appropriate response when encountering an unresponsive child whose collapse you did not witness is to provide care first before calling for help. In cases of cardiac arrest in children, especially if you find them unresponsive, performing immediate care—such as CPR—can be crucial. Administering compressions and breaths can help circulate blood and oxygen until emergency services arrive.

When you provide care first, you are addressing the immediate life-threatening condition the child is in. While calling for help is essential, a brief delay to provide necessary interventions can significantly improve the child's chances of survival.

The other options are not aligned with the most effective response in this scenario. Checking for pulse and breathing immediately might waste critical time without initiating lifesaving actions. Performing compressions for one minute may seem reasonable but does not account for the need to call for emergency help. Calling for help and performing ventilations could be appropriate, but if you are alone, immediate care is prioritized to stabilize the child before activating emergency services.