An adult patient becomes unresponsive while you are clearing their obstructed airway. What is the next action you should take if no object is seen?

When an adult patient becomes unresponsive while you are trying to clear their obstructed airway, and you do not see an object blocking the airway, the correct next action is to provide 2 ventilations. This response is essential because the patient is unresponsive, indicating that they are not breathing adequately. Administering 2 ventilations allows you to assess whether air can enter the lungs, indicating whether the airway is indeed obstructed or if there is something else involved, such as a respiratory arrest.

If the airway is clear, these ventilations will help to deliver oxygen to the lungs. In the case the airway is indeed obstructed, providing ventilations can lead to the expulsion of any remaining obstruction due to the pressure generated in the airway. This immediate action focuses on ensuring that the patient receives oxygen quickly, which is crucial in any resuscitation effort.

Other options might involve alternative steps in the chain of survival, but since the primary concern is addressing an unresponsive individual’s breathing, providing ventilations first is the appropriate response before proceeding to further actions, such as compressions or other maneuvers.