Board of Legal SpecializationPractice Exam

What action should you take if a child becomes unresponsive during choking intervention?

1. Stop all actions and call for help

2. Continue back blows only

3. Begin CPR immediately

4. Assess for breathing and check for a pulse

The correct answer is: Begin CPR immediately

When a child becomes unresponsive during a choking intervention, the appropriate action is to begin CPR immediately. This is crucial because an unresponsive child indicates that they are not breathing or not breathing effectively, which is a life-threatening situation. If the child is unresponsive, they are unable to cough or breathe, which may result in loss of consciousness and could lead to cardiac arrest if not addressed promptly. Starting CPR not only helps maintain blood flow to vital organs but also gives the opportunity to re-open the airway and potentially remove any obstruction if the rescuer performs chest compressions and rescue breaths effectively. During CPR, one can also identify if they can deliver additional airway clearance attempts as part of the resuscitation effort. Assessing for breathing and checking for a pulse can be part of normal CPR protocol but in this emergency scenario, immediate action is vital. The delay in starting CPR could reduce the chance of survival, as every second counts when a child is facing respiratory or cardiac compromise. Thus, initiating CPR is a direct response to the urgency of the situation.