If the survivor is not breathing, what should the rescue swimmer (RS) do first?

When a survivor is not breathing, the immediate and appropriate action is to give two rescue breaths. This is critical because providing rescue breaths can help oxygenate the survivor's lungs and maintain some level of crucial bodily function while further emergency measures, such as CPR, are prepared or initiated.

Giving rescue breaths directly addresses the urgent need for oxygenation in a situation where the individual is unable to breathe independently. This action can help prevent brain damage or death due to hypoxia, the condition resulting from insufficient oxygen.

While other actions, like checking for a pulse or performing CPR, are essential in an overall emergency response, the focus in this scenario revolves around restoring breathing first through rescue breaths. Calling for help could be secondary but isn't the immediate priority when dealing with a non-breathing survivor.