New York State Basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT-B) Practice Exam

What should an EMS provider do immediately after delivering an initial shock?

1. Check for a pulse

2. Give 2 ventilations

3. Perform compressions

4. Check blood pressure

The correct answer is: Perform compressions

Immediately after delivering an initial shock during a cardiac arrest scenario, the EMS provider should perform compressions. This is essential because the shock is intended to restore a normal heart rhythm, but without effective chest compressions, the likelihood of the heart successfully returning to a functional rhythm decreases. Performing high-quality, chest compressions helps to circulate blood to vital organs, maintaining some degree of perfusion regardless of whether the heart has regained its normal rhythm. The compressions create pressure that helps to push blood through the heart and throughout the body, which is critical in the minutes following defibrillation. In this context, checking for a pulse is important but not immediate right after shocking; rather, it should be done after a cycle of compressions and further assessments. Giving ventilations is also a relevant action, but it is not prioritized immediately after the shock. Checking blood pressure is not typically part of the immediate post-shock protocol and is less relevant during the critical moments following defibrillation.