What is the recommended action if you find someone unresponsive?

The recommended action when you find someone unresponsive is to check for signs of life and call for help. This is a critical first step in emergency response. By checking for signs of life, you can determine if the person is breathing or has a pulse. If they do not exhibit any signs of life, it indicates a medical emergency, prompting the need for immediate assistance and potentially CPR.

Calling for help is essential because emergency medical services (EMS) can provide advanced care, which is crucial in situations like cardiac arrest. It's important to activate the emergency response system at this stage, especially if you find yourself alone or untrained in CPR.

In addition, assessing the situation helps set you up for the next steps, whether it requires initiating CPR or using an automated external defibrillator (AED) if available. Ensuring that professional help is on the way is vital, while performing a thorough check ensures that appropriate actions can follow based on the person's condition.

Taking the action of leaving them alone or shaking them does not provide any assistance and could delay critical care. Therefore, checking for signs of life and calling for help is the most effective and appropriate response in such situations.