What should you check for when verifying the condition of an unresponsive infant?

When assessing an unresponsive infant, checking for normal breathing for 5 to 10 seconds is a crucial step in determining the infant's condition. During this time, you are looking to see if the infant is making any respiratory efforts, which is an essential indicator of whether they are in respiratory distress or if their heart is still functioning adequately.

This step is vital because the determination of effective breathing can influence the subsequent actions you take—whether to provide rescue breaths or initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation. If the infant is breathing normally, it can indicate that they are not in immediate danger; however, if no normal breathing is detected, it is an indication of a potential critical emergency requiring immediate intervention.

In this context, checking for responsiveness, while relevant, is addressed in a different aspect of initial assessment. Assessing a pulse is also important, but it is typically done in a separate step and for a longer duration of 5 to 10 seconds in a more general patient assessment rather than specifically for an unresponsive infant. Signs of dehydration are not part of the immediate assessment for unresponsiveness and do not assist in determining whether immediate life-saving measures are needed. Thus, focusing on normal breathing in the initial evaluation phase is the most appropriate action