When assessing an unconscious patient, what should be checked first?

When assessing an unconscious patient, checking for breathing is the priority because it directly indicates the patient's ability to ventilate and receive oxygen. If the patient is not breathing, immediate interventions, such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) or calling for emergency medical assistance, are necessary to prevent brain damage or death due to lack of oxygen. The assessment of breathing should be performed quickly and efficiently, as it will guide further steps in emergency management.

While evaluating pulse, pupil response, and skin temperature are important aspects of a physical assessment, they do not take precedence over establishing whether the patient is breathing. If the patient is not breathing, the other assessments may not significantly contribute to immediate life-saving interventions. Therefore, determining the presence or absence of breathing is the first and most critical step in responding to an unconscious patient.