American Lifeguard Practice Exam

What should you do after the second press of the AED shock button?

1. Continue CPR before the AED reanalyzes

2. Wait for medical personnel to arrive

3. Check for a pulse before continuing

4. Remove the AED pads from the victim

The correct answer is: Continue CPR before the AED reanalyzes

After the second press of the AED shock button, it is essential to immediately continue CPR before the AED reanalyzes the victim's heart rhythm. This practice is crucial because compressions help maintain blood circulation and oxygenation to vital organs, particularly the brain, during the critical moments following a shock. In a resuscitation scenario, time is of the essence, and any delay in administering effective chest compressions can reduce the chances of survival. The AED will typically instruct you to begin CPR after it has analyzed the heart rhythm, but if you have already delivered a shock, promptly resuming CPR maximizes the continuity of care that's vital for the victim's chance of recovery. Waiting for medical personnel to arrive or checking for a pulse before continuing can create unnecessary pauses in the lifesaving efforts, which can be detrimental. Removing the AED pads is also not an appropriate action at this point, as you want to maintain the connection for further analysis or additional shocks if necessary. Therefore, focusing on CPR after delivering a shock ensures that ongoing support is provided until more advanced medical help is available or the victim shows signs of life.