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Multiple Choice

What is the purpose of performing CPR before delivering a defibrillating shock with an AED, as described in the material?

Maintaining blood flow to vital organs is the key idea. When someone is in cardiac arrest, circulation has stalled, so starting CPR right away keeps oxygen-rich blood moving to the heart and brain. While the AED analyzes the rhythm and prepares to deliver a shock, chest compressions continue this perfusion, which helps prepare the heart to respond to defibrillation and can improve the chances of a successful rhythm restoration and better neurologic outcome. The other options don’t fit because CPR isn’t about rapidly restarting the heart instantly, changing blood glucose, or resetting the AED. In the material, performing CPR before the shock is described as prolonging the period in which you actively support circulation until the shock is delivered, to maximize effectiveness.

Maintaining blood flow to vital organs is the key idea. When someone is in cardiac arrest, circulation has stalled, so starting CPR right away keeps oxygen-rich blood moving to the heart and brain. While the AED analyzes the rhythm and prepares to deliver a shock, chest compressions continue this perfusion, which helps prepare the heart to respond to defibrillation and can improve the chances of a successful rhythm restoration and better neurologic outcome. The other options don’t fit because CPR isn’t about rapidly restarting the heart instantly, changing blood glucose, or resetting the AED. In the material, performing CPR before the shock is described as prolonging the period in which you actively support circulation until the shock is delivered, to maximize effectiveness.