An unresponsive elderly female shows snoring respirations and has a deviation in gaze. What should you do?

In the scenario presented, the unresponsive elderly female exhibiting snoring respirations and a deviation in gaze indicates a potential airway obstruction and altered level of consciousness. The presence of snoring respirations typically suggests that the airway is partially obstructed, likely by the tongue or other soft tissues, as the patient is unresponsive.

Inserting an oropharyngeal airway is the appropriate action because it is a device designed to keep the airway open in an unresponsive patient. By doing so, you can prevent asphyxia that could occur from airway obstruction due to the tongue falling back into the throat. It is crucial to ensure that the airway is secured in cases of unresponsiveness to facilitate effective ventilation and oxygenation.

In this context, while other interventions could be relevant (such as naloxone for opioid overdose in unresponsive patients or suctioning if there are visible secretions), the priority here is to secure the airway as the immediate step. Thus, inserting an oropharyngeal airway is the best choice for managing the airway effectively in this situation.