What should a rescuer do if a victim has a pulse but is not breathing?

When a victim has a pulse but is not breathing, the appropriate action is to give ventilations without compressions. This situation indicates that the heart is still functioning but the victim is not receiving adequate oxygenation due to the lack of breathing. Therefore, the focus should be on supplying rescue breaths to provide the oxygen necessary for the body's vital processes.

Administering ventilations involves delivering breaths into the victim's lungs, typically using a barrier device or bag-mask ventilation. This is crucial because the absence of spontaneous breathing can lead to hypoxia, which can quickly compromise the victim's condition even if the heart is still beating.

It's important to ensure that rescue breaths are delivered effectively, allowing for chest rise and fall, and to continue providing these ventilations until the victim starts breathing again or emergency medical services arrive to take over the care. The frequency and technique of these breaths depend on guidelines set by the AHA.

In this context, monitoring the pulse and calling for emergency medical services are important steps, but they do not directly address the immediate need for oxygenation that the victim requires.