North Carolina EMT State Practice Exam 2025 - Free EMT Practice Questions and Study Guide

The indication that requires immediate CPR is when there is no pulse or response. This is a critical situation often indicative of cardiac arrest. In such cases, the victim is unresponsive and not breathing normally, which means the heart has stopped pumping blood, and they are not receiving oxygen, putting them at high risk of death or severe brain injury within minutes.

When using an AED, if the device detects that there is no pulse or response from the victim, it indicates the need for immediate intervention with CPR. This is essential to manually support circulation and maintain some level of blood flow to vital organs until the AED can be utilized to restore a normal heart rhythm.

In contrast, the other options—shock advised, no shock advised, or device malfunction—do not require immediate CPR in the same way. For instance, when the AED indicates a shock is advised, you would first administer the shock and then immediately follow with CPR. If no shock is advised, it usually means that the heart is in a non-shockable rhythm, but CPR should still be started if there is no pulse or response. Recognizing the need for CPR amidst these scenarios is vital for effective emergency care.