Which signs indicate cardiac arrest in an unresponsive patient with no normal breathing, prompting immediate CPR?

• A. Unresponsiveness, absence of normal breathing, and no pulse
• B. Unresponsiveness with normal breathing
• C. Normal pulse with irregular breathing
• D. Alert and oriented, with normal respiration

Answer: (A)

The main idea is recognizing cardiac arrest by a combination of signs that mean the heart isn’t circulating blood. If a person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, you next check for a pulse. When there is no pulse, along with the unresponsiveness and absent normal breathing, it indicates cardiac arrest and immediate CPR is required. This is why the best answer includes all three elements: unresponsiveness, no normal breathing, and no pulse.

If someone is unresponsive but breathing normally, you don’t start CPR; you’d monitor and call for help. If there’s a pulse but not normal breathing, you provide rescue breaths rather than chest compressions. If the person is alert and oriented with normal respiration, CPR isn’t indicated.