What should be done immediately if a patient is in cardiac arrest?

In a scenario where a patient is in cardiac arrest, the immediate and critical response is to initiate CPR and activate the emergency response system. Cardiac arrest leads to the cessation of effective circulation, which means that the heart is not pumping blood to vital organs, including the brain. Immediate CPR provides artificial circulation by manually compressing the chest, aiming to maintain blood flow and oxygenation until advanced medical assistance arrives.

Activating the emergency response system is equally important. This ensures that advanced life support professionals are on their way while CPR is being performed. Time is of the essence in cardiac arrest situations, as brain death and serious organ damage can begin within minutes without oxygen. Therefore, performing CPR and calling for emergency help simultaneously addresses the urgent need for intervention.

The other responses do not adequately prioritize immediate life-saving actions. Monitoring vitals for five minutes is not appropriate since immediate action is required rather than waiting and observing. Administering medications can only be done by trained medical personnel and is not the first step in the chain of survival during a cardiac arrest. Moving the patient to a hospital delays vital interventions that can be performed at the site, and the patient’s condition could deteriorate further during transport. Thus, the immediate actions of initiating CPR and activating the emergency