A recent cadaver study investigated the safety of providers continuing to perform chest compressions during defibrillation. According to the study, which of the following statements is most likely true?
Traditional teaching has been that everyone must “clear” and not be touching the patient or even the bed or stretcher on which the patient is lying while defibrillation occurs. On the other hand, basic life support recommendations currently state that chest compressions should be interrupted for as short a time as possible during resuscitation. This has led some to ask if chest compressions could be safely continued through defibrillation. The defibrillator of today has adhesive gel pads that have far better contact with the patient than the paddles and gel of the past, and sophisticated electronics allow the device to generate energy with far lower voltages. Thus, the risk of rescuer shocks may not be as great as it was in...
