An elderly person has fallen and is unresponsive. Which instruction is most important for the caller to follow?

• A. Give water
• B. Check for responsiveness and breathing; begin CPR if no breathing
• C. Move the person to a sitting position
• D. Tell them to help the person stand up

Answer: (B)

When someone is unresponsive after a fall, the highest priority is to determine if they are breathing and responsive and to act immediately if they are not. If there is no normal breathing, begin CPR right away. Chest compressions keep blood flowing to the brain and heart, buying time until emergency help arrives or an AED is available. Giving water won’t help and can cause harm, and moving the person to a sitting position or telling someone to stand up does not address the airway or circulation and can worsen injuries. In practice, call for help and start CPR if there’s no breathing, continuing until professional help takes over or an AED is ready to use.