What is the first thing you should check in a drowning victim?

In the case of a drowning victim, the first priority is to check for responsiveness and breathing. This step is crucial because it determines the immediate need for further interventions, such as calling for emergency assistance or performing CPR. In a drowning situation, a lack of responsiveness and breathing signifies that the victim's airway may be compromised, requiring urgent action to restore breathing and circulation.

Focusing on responsiveness involves gently shaking the victim and calling out to them to see if they respond. If there's no response, the next step is to assess breathing. If the victim is not breathing or is only gasping, then it is essential to initiate rescue breaths and CPR as soon as possible.

While checking the victim's color and temperature, signs of hypothermia, or visible injuries are also important in a comprehensive assessment, they are secondary to ensuring that the victim is breathing and responsive. Assessing these other factors won’t help the victim if they are not receiving the immediate care they need to restore breathing and circulation, which are critical in drowning cases.