Which of the following actions should be prioritized before performing CPR?

Prioritizing calling for emergency assistance before performing CPR is essential because it ensures that advanced medical help is on the way while you attend to the victim. This action secures the availability of additional resources and personnel, which is crucial for the patient's outcome. When you call for emergency assistance, you also provide important information that can help responders prepare for the situation.

In the context of CPR, time is critical, especially in cases of cardiac arrest. By gaining emergency support early, you can focus on performing high-quality CPR knowing that trained professionals will arrive shortly to take over. This is vital because while performing CPR is important, the survival of the individual can significantly depend on the timely arrival of medical services, which can provide advanced care like defibrillation, medication, and other life-saving measures.

Other actions, while important, play a different role in the emergency response sequence. Assessing responsiveness is fundamental for determining if CPR is needed, but it does not replace the necessity of getting help. Checking for a pulse can confirm the need for CPR, but it is usually handled during the initial assessment of the victim. Requesting backup is also important, but calling emergency services is a more immediate priority that ensures help is on the way while CPR is initiated.