Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured ...

3. When the V-fib or V-tach is not “fresh,” a rapid shock is not always the best initial treatment. a. When a patient is in cardiac arrest for 4 to 5 minutes or longer, even if the initial ECG showed a shockable rhythm, the success rate is poor. b. Perfusion and oxygenation are needed first. ................
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