Ace the Ontario Paramedic Practice Exam 2026 – Sprint to Success and Save Lives!

The correct choice is rooted in the understanding of when an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) should be deployed. AEDs are primarily used in cases of cardiac arrest where the patient is in a state of ventricular fibrillation (VF) or pulseless ventricular tachycardia (VT).

When a patient exhibits an altered level of awareness, it may signal a critical situation, but this alone does not indicate the necessity of defibrillation. The essential condition for using an AED is the presence of specific heart rhythm abnormalities that require intervention. Thus, the presence of an altered level of awareness could potentially lead to further examination, but it isn't an explicit indication for defibrillation without confirming the presence of a shockable rhythm.

The concept of "shock indicated" is indeed the primary guide for when to use an AED. This means that if the AED analysis indicates a shockable rhythm, then defibrillation should be carried out promptly. Other factors like "obviously dead" or "no obvious ROSC" typically indicate situations where resuscitation efforts may not be appropriate or are unlikely to succeed, rather than conditions warranting immediate defibrillator use.

Understanding the correct indications for defibrillation is critical as it ensures the AED is used