A 71-year-old male is unresponsive; what should be your first action?

The first action when encountering an unresponsive individual is to assess their breathing and pulse. This is crucial because it helps to determine whether the patient is in cardiac arrest or if they are breathing but unresponsive, which informs the immediate actions required for their care. If the patient is not breathing or has no pulse, it signals the need for urgent cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and potentially advanced life support interventions.

Other actions, such as performing a stroke assessment or checking blood glucose levels, may be relevant, but they can only be performed after ensuring the patient is stable. Moving the patient to the floor is not a priority unless it is necessary for safety or to provide adequate care. Therefore, focusing first on identifying the patient's breathing and circulatory status is essential for initiating appropriate life-saving measures.