What is the appropriate action if a patient has no pulse?

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Prepare for the HOSA Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Test. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Master your exam!

When a patient has no pulse, it indicates that their heart is not effectively pumping blood, which can lead to cardiac arrest. The priority in this situation is to restore circulation as quickly as possible. Performing CPR immediately is essential because it helps to manually circulate blood and delivers oxygen to the brain and vital organs until advanced medical help arrives or until the heart can be restarted.

Starting CPR as soon as possible can significantly increase the patient's chances of survival, especially if done within the first few minutes of cardiac arrest. If CPR is delayed, the likelihood of irreversible damage to the brain and other organs increases considerably.

In this context, monitoring breathing, administering medication, or waiting to reassess do not address the immediate need for circulation. CPR is the most immediate and effective action to take in the event of a pulseless patient, making it the correct response in this scenario.

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