While waiting for help at a swimming pool with an unresponsive obese male, what should you do?

In the scenario presented, selecting to ventilate the unresponsive obese male is appropriate for several reasons. The priority in a situation involving an unresponsive individual is to assess the airway and ensure adequate ventilation. Given that the patient is unresponsive, his ability to breathe on his own is compromised, which necessitates immediate intervention to provide artificial ventilation.

Ventilation is critical in the event of respiratory failure or cardiac arrest, especially in an obese patient, who may have an increased risk of complications due to excess weight affecting the ability to ventilate effectively. By providing ventilation, you help ensure that oxygen is delivered to the vital organs, which is crucial in a rescue scenario while waiting for emergency services to arrive.

Additionally, it is important to note that attaching the AED and analyzing the rhythm should only be done if there is no pulse and the patient is in a cardiac arrest situation. It may be more suitable to begin CPR (which includes both chest compressions and ventilation) before focusing solely on rhythm analysis, especially if resources are limited.

While securing the individual to a long backboard could be part of management in certain scenarios—particularly if spinal injury is suspected—prioritizing ventilation is essential for restoring breathing and oxygenation. Resuscitation efforts should not be withheld