Answer:
Before a rhythm check in a cardiac emergency, the team leader needs to make sure that the members are ready to perform defibrillation. A defibrillator or AED is used to deliver an electric shock to correct arrhythmias and CPR is often recommended before using an AED. Therefore, the correct multiple-choice option is (b).
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of the cardiac arrest algorithm, before the rhythm check, the team leader should ensure that team members are prepared to perform defibrillation. During a cardiac emergency, the delivery of a sudden electric shock through a defibrillator can be critical to save a person's life. The shock aims to correct fast, irregular heartbeats, such as cardiac or ventricular fibrillation, helping the heart to resume a normal rhythm. Nowadays, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are widely accessible in public places and ambulances, designed for use even by individuals without medical training.
The AED automatically diagnoses the heart's rhythm and administers the correct energy and waveform of the shock. It is crucial that CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is performed in many cases before the use of an AED to increase the chances of survival. Therefore, the correct multiple-choice option is (b).