Patient Care Technician (PCT) AAH Practice Exam

When should an AED be used on a patient?

1. Unresponsive

2. Without a pulse

3. Not breathing

4. All are reasons to use an AED

The correct answer is: All are reasons to use an AED

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) should be used when a patient shows signs of sudden cardiac arrest, which typically includes being unresponsive, having no pulse, and not breathing. The AED is designed to analyze the heart's rhythm and provide a shock if it detects a rhythm that can be treated. Using an AED is vital in these situations because it can restore a normal heart rhythm, significantly improving the chances of survival and recovery for the patient. Each of the individual criteria—unresponsiveness, absence of a pulse, and lack of breathing—indicates that the patient is experiencing a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention with an AED. Therefore, it is appropriate to say that all these conditions represent reasons to apply an AED. In emergency response, acting quickly can mean the difference between life and death, so recognizing all these signs as triggers to use an AED is crucial for effective patient care.