You approach a young male from an industrial accident who is unresponsive. What should you do first?

Opening the airway and assessing the breathing status is the most critical first step when approaching an unresponsive patient. In situations where an individual is unresponsive, ensuring the airway is clear is essential because an obstructed airway can lead to lack of oxygen, respiratory distress, or death within minutes.

Once the airway is opened, the next logical step is to assess breathing. Without adequate assessment of the airway and breathing status, any other interventions may be futile. If the patient is not breathing or has inadequate breathing, immediate measures need to be taken, such as ventilation or calling for advanced medical help.

This immediate prioritization of airway management is in line with the basic principles of emergency medicine, which stress the importance of securing the airway first in critically ill or injured patients. Addressing airway and respiratory issues directly impacts the patient's chances of survival, making it the most appropriate first action in this scenario.