What is the first action to take when an infant is found unresponsive and not breathing?

When an infant is found unresponsive and not breathing, the first action to take is to immediately start high-quality CPR. This is because an unresponsive and non-breathing infant is at significant risk for cardiac arrest due to various reasons, such as airway obstruction or respiratory failure. The primary goal is to begin chest compressions and rescue breaths as quickly as possible to maintain blood circulation and oxygen delivery to vital organs.

High-quality CPR is crucial in this situation. For infants, CPR involves using two fingers to perform compressions at a depth of about one-third the depth of the chest and at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute, combined with providing rescue breaths at a ratio of 30 compressions to 2 breaths. Quick initiation of this life-saving technique can greatly improve the chances of survival and neurological outcomes for the infant.

Waiting to activate emergency medical services or check for a pulse before starting CPR could delay critical intervention, while relying on additional BLS providers is unnecessary in such an urgent scenario. The immediate response for any unresponsive and not breathing individual, particularly an infant, is to start CPR as soon as possible to begin restoring blood flow and oxygenation.