When faced with potential unconsciousness in a victim, what is the first step a lifeguard should take?

The first step a lifeguard should take when confronted with a potential unconscious victim is to check for responsiveness and call for help. This step is crucial because assessing responsiveness allows the lifeguard to determine the victim's consciousness and breathing status, which are critical indicators of the person's condition.

Calling for help is essential because, in an emergency, immediate assistance can significantly impact the outcome. If the lifeguard finds the victim unresponsive, notifying other lifeguards or emergency medical services ensures that more trained personnel can arrive to assist and provide further medical intervention, as necessary.

Checking responsiveness should precede actions like performing CPR or removing the victim from the water. CPR should only be initiated if the victim is unresponsive and not breathing. Removing the victim from the water could potentially complicate the situation if the person is not truly in need of extraction or if doing so takes valuable time away from calling for help or starting necessary aid.

Therefore, starting with checking responsiveness and calling for help establishes a protocol that prioritizes safety and procedural effectiveness in an emergency situation.