When should you initiate CPR?

Initiating CPR is crucial when the patient is unresponsive and breathless. This scenario indicates that the patient is not breathing effectively or at all, which is a key indicator for the need for immediate intervention. In adults, the absence of responsiveness coupled with the lack of normal breathing signifies a critical medical emergency, typically associated with cardiac arrest.

In such cases, timely initiation of CPR can significantly increase the chances of survival by restoring blood flow and oxygen delivery to the vital organs until advanced medical help arrives. It is important that responders recognize the signs of unresponsiveness and abnormal or absent breathing to act quickly.

The other scenarios discussed do not warrant immediate CPR. For instance, verifying the patient's pulse does not align with the immediate need for CPR since it is more critical to assess responsiveness and breathing first. If a patient is unconscious but still breathing, they may not require CPR; instead, they should be positioned appropriately and monitored until further medical assistance is available. Lastly, limiting CPR initiation only to known cases of cardiac arrest can lead to fatal delays in intervention since many emergencies may present with unresponsiveness and breathlessness. Therefore, guideline standards emphasize the necessity to act on unresponsiveness and lack of effective breathing regardless of the presumed cause.