When assessing a patient, what should be done first if they are unresponsive?

When dealing with an unresponsive patient, the immediate priority is to ensure that help is on the way. Calling for assistance is crucial because a timely response from emergency services can greatly impact the patient's outcome. While other assessments, such as checking for breathing, assessing injuries, and checking for a pulse, are also vital components of patient care, they can only be performed after ensuring that trained personnel are alerted to the situation. Without calling for assistance first, there may be a delay in receiving critical help that is needed for a potentially life-threatening situation. Thus, initiating the process of getting help is the most essential step in this scenario.