What should you do immediately after delivering a shock with the AED?

What should you do immediately after delivering a shock with the AED?

• A. Reassess breathing
• B. Resume CPR immediately starting with chest compressions
• C. Check for pulse
• D. Wait 2 minutes

Answer: (B)

Immediately restart CPR with chest compressions. After a shock, you need to keep blood flowing to the brain and heart, and delays to compressions reduce the chances of a good outcome. Perform about two minutes of CPR (about five cycles) so the AED can reanalyze and guide the next steps. Don’t wait to check for a pulse or breathing, and don’t delay starting compressions—the priority is continuous perfusion until the rhythm is reassessed.

Immediately restart CPR with chest compressions. After a shock, you need to keep blood flowing to the brain and heart, and delays to compressions reduce the chances of a good outcome. Perform about two minutes of CPR (about five cycles) so the AED can reanalyze and guide the next steps. Don’t wait to check for a pulse or breathing, and don’t delay starting compressions—the priority is continuous perfusion until the rhythm is reassessed.