An 81-year-old female is unconscious and aspirated oatmeal. Initial attempts at providing ventilations have been unsuccessful. What should you do?

In this scenario, the appropriate action is to attempt to clear the airway. When an individual is unconscious and has aspirated a substance, such as oatmeal in this case, air cannot effectively flow into the lungs. The priority is to ensure the airway is clear of any obstruction. This may involve utilizing techniques such as suctioning or performing a modified position to facilitate the removal of the obstruction, provided it is safe and feasible to do so.

The reasoning behind starting with airway clearance is that positive pressure ventilation is not effective if there is an obstruction. Administering chest compressions is intended for cases of cardiac arrest and would not address the immediate need to clear the airway. While the Heimlich maneuver is effective in conscious patients with airway obstructions, it is not appropriate for an unconscious individual, as it could cause further complications or injury. Therefore, focusing on clearing the airway maximizes the chance of restoring normal respiration and oxygenation.