How do you determine if an adult victim is unresponsive?

To determine if an adult victim is unresponsive, gently shaking the person and shouting, "Are you okay?" is an effective method. This approach is essential because it assesses the person's responsiveness in a straightforward manner. By shaking the individual and calling out, you are attempting to stimulate a response and check if they react to verbal cues or physical stimuli. If there is no response to your voice or touch, this indicates the individual is unresponsive.

This method is crucially the first step taken in assessing the victim's state. If they do not respond, emergency action should be taken, such as calling for help or initiating CPR if needed. Engaging in this immediate assessment is vital in an emergency to ascertain the level of responsiveness without delay.

Looking for signs of breathing, checking for a pulse, or observing for movement are all important observations; however, they should follow the initial assessment of responsiveness. These steps help confirm the severity of the victim’s condition but do not replace the necessity of first directly assessing whether the victim reacts to stimuli.