National Safety Council (NSC) CPR Certification Practice Exam

To check if a victim is responsive, it is important to use methods that are effective in eliciting a reaction from them. Shouting at the victim can be one way to gain their attention and assess their level of responsiveness. This approach is effective because loud sounds can stimulate the person's auditory senses and perhaps provoke a verbal or physical response.

Shaking the victim's shoulders is another technique used to check for responsiveness. This method allows for a physical stimulus that can jostle the individual enough to prompt a reaction, such as moving, making sounds, or opening their eyes. This method is particularly useful when the person may be unresponsive to auditory cues.

Both methods aim to engage the victim directly and determine their state of consciousness. Using both shouting and shaking increases the likelihood of obtaining a response, as it combines auditory and tactile stimulation, making it a comprehensive approach to assess responsiveness in emergency situations.