What crucial assessment step should be performed on a patient who is unable to breathe?

Opening the airway and reassessing breathing is essential when a patient is unable to breathe. This step is critical because it directly addresses the potential cause of the respiratory failure. In many cases, airway obstruction – whether from a foreign body, swelling, or other factors – can prevent airflow to the lungs. By opening the airway, you can help restore breathing. Reassessing breathing ensures that the intervention is effective and that the patient is either improving or requires further action.

Performing a circulatory response check or analyzing blood pressure might be important in overall patient assessment but not as an immediate priority when a patient is unable to breathe. Initiating CPR is also a possibility if the patient is unresponsive and shows no signs of breathing, yet the first step should always be to establish and secure the airway. Therefore, prioritizing airway management is a key part of the initial assessment and intervention for any patient experiencing respiratory distress.