What should you do if an adult is choking and unresponsive?

When an adult is choking and unresponsive, the correct action is to perform CPR. This response is essential due to the immediate need to restore breathing and circulation when the person cannot provide any voluntary actions, such as coughing or speaking, which may indicate that the airway is completely blocked.

In this scenario, performing CPR involves a cycle of chest compressions and rescue breaths. The chest compressions help maintain blood flow to vital organs, while rescue breaths can help provide oxygen to the lungs, which is critical when the airway is obstructed. The approach also allows for the possibility of dislodging the obstruction during the compressions.

In contrast, encouraging the person to cough or giving them water is inappropriate since the individual is unresponsive and cannot take any voluntary action. Similarly, administering abdominal thrusts is not suitable because the person is not able to cooperate or respond, and it poses risks in an unresponsive situation. Thus, CPR becomes the vital intervention that needs to be initiated immediately in response to the choking episode.