If a person is not breathing but has a pulse, what action should you take?

When a person is not breathing but still has a pulse, the appropriate action to take is to provide rescue breaths. The rationale behind this is that while the heart is still beating, the body is not getting the oxygen it needs due to the absence of effective breathing. Therefore, delivering rescue breaths helps to ventilate the person's lungs and ensures that oxygen is circulated through their bloodstream.

Providing rescue breaths involves giving the person a breath every 5 to 6 seconds, which helps to maintain oxygen levels until normal breathing resumes or emergency medical services arrive. This method allows for the vital exchange of gases—oxygen in and carbon dioxide out.

Other potential actions, such as starting chest compressions, would not be suitable in this situation because chest compressions are reserved for situations where there is no pulse. Calling for emergency help is advisable in any life-threatening scenario but does not address the immediate need for oxygenation. Monitoring the person closely is necessary, but it is not a definitive intervention that addresses the critical issue of the absence of breathing. Thus, providing rescue breaths is the most effective and lifesaving action in this scenario.