When administering basic life support, what is a vital step?

In administering basic life support (BLS), checking for breathing is a vital step because it helps assess the severity of the person's condition. When someone is unresponsive or suspected of having a cardiac or respiratory emergency, determining whether they are breathing effectively is crucial for deciding the appropriate response. If the person is not breathing or only gasping, this indicates the need for immediate intervention, such as initiating chest compressions and rescue breaths, if trained to do so.

This step is essential because it lays the foundation for further actions—either calling for emergency help, starting CPR, or using an automated external defibrillator (AED) if available. Recognizing the absence of normal breathing can significantly influence the outcome, as timely BLS significantly improves the chances of survival in an emergency situation. Other steps, while important in various contexts, do not directly address the immediate need for assessing airway and breathing status in an emergency scenario.