What should you do if you are unsure whether a person is breathing?

If you are unsure whether a person is breathing, checking for signs of circulation is the appropriate action to take. This involves assessing the person's pulse and overall responsiveness. By doing this, you can determine if they are in a state that requires immediate medical intervention. An absence of pulse or facial color changes can indicate that the person is not breathing effectively or is in cardiac arrest, which necessitates immediate CPR and rescue breaths.

On the other hand, administering rescue breaths without confirmation of the person's need could be ineffective and delay necessary actions, while assuming that the individual doesn't need assistance could also lead to dangerous consequences. Waiting for the individual to regain consciousness is not appropriate in cases of suspected respiratory distress or cardiac arrest, as it may result in a critical delay in providing lifesaving care.