A pre-hospital team is managing a cardiac arrest in a patient found in a bathtub full of water. The patient has been removed from the water. According...

Question

A pre-hospital team is managing a cardiac arrest in a patient found in a bathtub full of water. The patient has been removed from the water. According to RCUK 2025 guidelines, is defibrillation safe to perform if the patient's chest is wet?

Accepted Answer

Yes - dry the chest thoroughly and then defibrillate; water on the skin surface can be wiped away safely

Answer

Defibrillation should be delayed for 10 minutes to allow the skin to dry completely

Answer

Defibrillation can only be performed if the patient is at least 5 metres from any water

Answer

Only AED defibrillation is safe in wet patients, not manual defibrillation

Answer

No - defibrillation is absolutely contraindicated if the patient has been in water

uk-dipimc MCQ (SBA): Defibrillation in Wet Patients

A pre-hospital team is managing a cardiac arrest in a patient found in a bathtub full of water. The patient has been removed from the water. According to RCUK 2025 guidelines, is defibrillation safe to perform if the patient's chest is wet?