Rev Up for 2026 with the ACLS Cardiac Arrest Challenge – Your Lifesaving Edge!

When a shockable rhythm is present, the most effective move is to deliver defibrillation as soon as possible. Restoring a normal rhythm early greatly improves the chances of survival because it stops the electrical chaos that’s preventing the heart from pumping effectively.

After you deliver a shock, you should immediately resume high-quality chest compressions. Minimize any pauses to keep perfusion to the heart and brain. Then, recheck the rhythm and pulse at the next two-minute interval and decide whether to shock again or continue CPR and other measures. This cycle—shock, then CPR, then reassessment—maximizes the window of opportunity to achieve return of spontaneous circulation.

Airway management and other interventions are important, but delaying defibrillation to focus on the airway can reduce the likelihood of survival, since time to defibrillation is a critical driver in outcomes for shockable arrests.