What should you do when you find a semiconscious patient with slow, shallow respirations and vomitus draining from the mouth?

When encountering a semiconscious patient with slow, shallow respirations and vomitus draining from the mouth, ensuring that the airway is clear and assisting ventilations is crucial. This patient is at risk for airway obstruction due to their altered mental status and the presence of vomitus, which can lead to choking or aspiration.

By ensuring that the airway is clear, you are taking immediate steps to prevent further complications. Assisting with ventilations helps to provide adequate oxygenation and ensure that the patient receives sufficient respiratory support, especially since their respiratory effort is diminished (slow, shallow respirations).

Maintaining an open airway and providing ventilatory support is essential to stabilize the patient before any further interventions. In this situation, the focus is on preventing hypoxia and managing the airway, which is why this choice is the most appropriate course of action.