If there is no normal breathing or gasping and no pulse is felt, what cycle should you perform?

If there is no normal breathing or gasping and no pulse is felt, what cycle should you perform?

• A. Hold CPR until help arrives
• B. Check for breathing for 10 seconds
• C. Provide rescue breaths only
• D. Start cycles of 30 compressions and 2 breaths and use AED as soon as available

Answer: (D)

When there is no normal breathing or gasping and no pulse, the person is in cardiac arrest, so the priority is to keep blood circulating while preparing for a shock if needed. The best approach is to start cycles of 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths, then continue those cycles until help arrives or an AED is ready to use. Chest compressions push blood to the heart and brain, while the breaths provide essential oxygen to the lungs and bloodstream. Perform compressions at a steady, firm pace—about 100 to 120 per minute—and deepen them to roughly 2 inches (5 cm) for adults, allowing full chest recoil after each push. After every 30 compressions, give 2 breaths that make the chest rise, then resume compressions. Use an AED as soon as it’s available; turn it on and follow its prompts to analyze the rhythm and deliver a shock if advised. This combination of high-quality CPR with timely defibrillation gives the best chance of restoring a viable heartbeat and maintaining vital organ function. Delaying compressions or doing breaths alone won’t move blood effectively or restore rhythm as reliably.

When there is no normal breathing or gasping and no pulse, the person is in cardiac arrest, so the priority is to keep blood circulating while preparing for a shock if needed. The best approach is to start cycles of 30 chest compressions and 2 rescue breaths, then continue those cycles until help arrives or an AED is ready to use. Chest compressions push blood to the heart and brain, while the breaths provide essential oxygen to the lungs and bloodstream. Perform compressions at a steady, firm pace—about 100 to 120 per minute—and deepen them to roughly 2 inches (5 cm) for adults, allowing full chest recoil after each push. After every 30 compressions, give 2 breaths that make the chest rise, then resume compressions. Use an AED as soon as it’s available; turn it on and follow its prompts to analyze the rhythm and deliver a shock if advised. This combination of high-quality CPR with timely defibrillation gives the best chance of restoring a viable heartbeat and maintaining vital organ function. Delaying compressions or doing breaths alone won’t move blood effectively or restore rhythm as reliably.