When checking responsiveness of an unresponsive patient, what should you do after calling their name?

When assessing the responsiveness of an unresponsive patient, calling their name is often the first step to determine if there is any reaction. After this initial call, tapping the chest is a vital next action. This technique serves two primary purposes: it can help to physically stimulate the patient to check for any response, and it allows you to perform another assessment about the patient’s condition.

Tapping the chest is generally more effective than other options at this stage, as it directly engages the patient in a manner that may elicit a reflexive response, even in an unresponsive individual. It's also a non-invasive method and does not interfere with managing potential breathing issues or checking vital signs too early in the assessment.

The other actions, while important in the overall assessment and management of the patient, would come after checking for any immediate reaction through tapping the chest. Checking the pulse or assessing breathing would require the patient to be conscious enough to get accurate readings or responses, while looking for signs of injury would typically come after establishing that the patient needs further medical intervention. Tapping the chest effectively helps in determining the patient's level of responsiveness quickly and effectively.