What is the first step in the Adult Chain of Survival?

The first step in the Adult Chain of Survival is to call for help, effectively activating the emergency response system. This action is critical because immediate access to advanced medical care greatly improves a person's chances of survival in emergencies like cardiac arrest. When someone is unresponsive or not breathing normally, calling for help ensures that emergency services are on their way while also allowing the responder to focus on providing care.

Activating the emergency response system allows trained professionals to bring necessary equipment, additional personnel, and advanced interventions that are essential in a life-threatening situation. By calling for help first, responders create a bridge to vital resources that can make a significant difference in the outcome for the victim.

Starting CPR and retrieving an AED are important steps that follow in the Chain of Survival, but without first activating emergency response, those actions may not be as effective or timely. Checking for responsiveness is a good initial assessment, but the priority is to ensure that more advanced care is on the way as quickly as possible.