What is the appropriate first action for suspected cardiac arrest?

In cases of suspected cardiac arrest, the immediate priority is to initiate cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and call for help. This is because cardiac arrest leads to the cessation of blood flow to the brain and other vital organs, which can result in irreversible damage or death within minutes. Immediate CPR helps to maintain circulation and oxygenation to critical areas of the body while waiting for advanced medical help to arrive.

Calling for help ensures that additional resources, including potential advanced life support, are on the way. Initiating CPR right away maximizes the chances of survival and improves outcomes for the patient. As time is a critical factor in cardiac arrest scenarios, actions like rescue breathing or administering medications are not as effective without first ensuring that the basic life support measures are being actively undertaken. Additionally, applying a tourniquet is unrelated and only applicable in cases of severe bleeding, which is not the primary concern in a suspected cardiac arrest situation.

Starting by calling for help and commencing CPR serves to address the immediate life-threatening emergency effectively, emphasizing the need for rapid intervention in potential cardiac arrest cases.