A 55-year-old male is in a witnessed VF cardiac arrest outside a supermarket. An off-duty nurse has started CPR. The public-access AED has been retrie...

Question

A 55-year-old male is in a witnessed VF cardiac arrest outside a supermarket. An off-duty nurse has started CPR. The public-access AED has been retrieved and is ready. How soon after the onset of VF should the first shock ideally be delivered to maximise survival?

Accepted Answer

Within 3-5 minutes of collapse - survival rates of 50-70% are achievable with early defibrillation in witnessed VF

Answer

Within 15 minutes

Answer

The timing of defibrillation does not affect survival

Answer

Within 1 minute - any delay beyond this is fatal

Answer

Within 30 minutes

uk-dipimc MCQ (SBA): Time to Defibrillation and Survival

A 55-year-old male is in a witnessed VF cardiac arrest outside a supermarket. An off-duty nurse has started CPR. The public-access AED has been retrieved and is ready. How soon after the onset of VF should the first shock ideally be delivered to maximise survival?