In a collapsed patient with no pulse and no breathing, after calling 911 and retrieving an AED, you should immediately

In a collapsed patient with no pulse and no breathing, after calling 911 and retrieving an AED, you should immediately

• A. Check pulse again
• B. Wait for AED
• C. Begin compressions
• D. Provide rescue breaths only

Answer: (C)

Maintaining blood flow is the priority. In an adult who suddenly collapses with no pulse and no breathing, your goal is to provide immediate high-quality chest compressions to keep perfusion to the brain and heart until defibrillation can be attempted. After you’ve called for help and retrieved the AED, start compressions right away rather than waiting or checking again. Use a steady rate of about 100–120 compressions per minute and a depth of about 2 inches (5 cm), with full recoil and minimal interruptions. Then bring in the AED as soon as possible and follow its prompts. If you’re trained, you can incorporate rescue breaths after every 30 compressions, but delaying compressions to give breaths or waiting for the AED would waste crucial time.

Maintaining blood flow is the priority. In an adult who suddenly collapses with no pulse and no breathing, your goal is to provide immediate high-quality chest compressions to keep perfusion to the brain and heart until defibrillation can be attempted. After you’ve called for help and retrieved the AED, start compressions right away rather than waiting or checking again. Use a steady rate of about 100–120 compressions per minute and a depth of about 2 inches (5 cm), with full recoil and minimal interruptions. Then bring in the AED as soon as possible and follow its prompts. If you’re trained, you can incorporate rescue breaths after every 30 compressions, but delaying compressions to give breaths or waiting for the AED would waste crucial time.