When should you perform CPR for drowning victims?

Performing CPR for drowning victims is crucial when they are unresponsive and do not have a pulse. In the case of drowning, victims often experience cardiac arrest due to a lack of oxygen. If they are unresponsive, it indicates that their body is not functioning normally—meaning they are unable to breathe or react. The absence of a pulse confirms that blood is not circulating, which makes immediate CPR necessary in order to provide artificial circulation and maintain oxygen flow to vital organs.

Timely intervention is critical in drowning incidents, as the chances of survival significantly decrease with each passing minute without adequate oxygenation. It is important to prioritize CPR in these situations rather than waiting for other conditions to be met, as the primary goal is to restore breathing and circulation as quickly as possible.

The other options do not align with recommended CPR practices: performing CPR only on conscious victims would disregard those who urgently need help, delaying aid until after 5 minutes is detrimental, and requiring a call to emergency services before initiating CPR could waste precious time when immediate action is necessary.