An unresponsive patient with multi-systems trauma has slow, shallow breathing; weak radial pulses; and severe bleeding from a lower-extremity wound. You should direct your partner to:

• A. Apply oxygen via nonrebreathing mask while you control the bleeding.
• B. Radio for a paramedic ambulance to respond to the scene.
• C. Prepare the long spine board and straps for rapid spinal immobilization.
• D. Assist the patient's ventilations while you control the bleeding.

Answer: (D)

When a trauma patient is unresponsive with slow, shallow breathing and signs of potential shock, the priority is to secure the airway and support ventilation while addressing life-threatening hemorrhage. Assisting ventilations ensures adequate oxygen delivery and carbon dioxide removal right now, which is critical because the patient isn’t breathing effectively on their own. At the same time, you control the severe bleeding from the leg to minimize ongoing blood loss and improve perfusion. This simultaneous approach directly targets the two most immediate threats: inadequate breathing and hemorrhage. Delivering oxygen via a nonrebreather mask doesn’t fix the inadequate ventilation, waiting for advanced help delays essential care, and immobilizing the spine isn’t the first step when breathing and bleeding require urgent attention.