NREMT Paramedic

Answer: B - When attempting resuscitation on a patient in cardiac arrest with an automated external defibrillation device, time is the most critical factor to success. Early defibrillation is critical to increasing the survival of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. Early defibrillation is paramount to improving successful resuscitation because the most frequent presenting initial rhythm is ventricular fibrillation. The most effective method to abolish ventricular fibrillations is defibrillation; the sooner the defibrillation is delivered, the better the chance of successful conversion.