If you cannot palpate the femoral pulse in an unresponsive infant, you should:

If you cannot palpate the femoral pulse in an unresponsive infant, you should:

• A. Check carotid pulse
• B. Initiate CPR immediately
• C. Assess for signs of life for 10 seconds
• D. Begin bag-valve-mask ventilation

Answer: (B)

In an unresponsive infant, not being able to feel a femoral pulse is treated as the absence of a detectable pulse. This means perfusion to vital organs is not sufficient, and you must start CPR immediately rather than spending time confirming a pulse. The priority is to restore circulation with chest compressions as soon as possible, since delays decrease the chances of survival. Trying to check a carotid pulse would also waste valuable time and is not reliable in infants. Waiting to assess for signs of life for a set number of seconds would similarly delay lifesaving CPR. Beginning bag-valve-mask ventilation alone won’t restart circulation; chest compressions are essential in this scenario and are started right away, with ventilation provided as part of the CPR cycle.

In an unresponsive infant, not being able to feel a femoral pulse is treated as the absence of a detectable pulse. This means perfusion to vital organs is not sufficient, and you must start CPR immediately rather than spending time confirming a pulse. The priority is to restore circulation with chest compressions as soon as possible, since delays decrease the chances of survival.

Trying to check a carotid pulse would also waste valuable time and is not reliable in infants. Waiting to assess for signs of life for a set number of seconds would similarly delay lifesaving CPR. Beginning bag-valve-mask ventilation alone won’t restart circulation; chest compressions are essential in this scenario and are started right away, with ventilation provided as part of the CPR cycle.