Management of a Patient in Ventricular Fibrillation Who Stops Breathing

Initial Assessment and Actions

The American Heart Association recommends verifying scene safety before approaching a patient in ventricular fibrillation who suddenly stops breathing 1
The American Heart Association suggests checking for responsiveness by tapping the patient and calling out 1
The American Heart Association advises looking for no breathing or only gasping and checking pulse simultaneously, taking no more than 10 seconds to determine if pulse is present 1, 2
The American Heart Association recommends starting CPR immediately if there is no breathing (or only gasping) and no pulse is felt 1, 2

The American Heart Association recommends performing high-quality chest compressions, pushing hard at least 2 inches in adults 2
The American Heart Association suggests pushing fast, at a rate of 100-120 compressions per minute 2
The American Heart Association advises allowing complete chest recoil after each compression 2
The American Heart Association recommends minimizing interruptions in compressions 2
For a single rescuer, the American Heart Association suggests performing cycles of 30 compressions and 2 breaths 1, 2
When a second rescuer arrives, the American Heart Association recommends performing cycles of 15 compressions and 2 breaths for pediatric patients or continuing 30:2 for adults 1, 3

The American Heart Association recommends using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) as soon as it becomes available 1, 2
The American Heart Association suggests checking rhythm to determine if it is a shockable rhythm, such as ventricular fibrillation 1, 2
If the rhythm is shockable, the American Heart Association advises delivering 1 shock and immediately resuming CPR for 2 minutes 1, 2

The 2020 American Heart Association guidelines emphasize the critical importance of immediate CPR initiation for patients in cardiac arrest 1, 2
The American Heart Association recommends prioritizing starting CPR immediately to maintain perfusion to vital organs while the emergency response system is activated and an AED is retrieved 1, 2