Ontario Paramedic Practice Exam

What are the indications for a medical cardiac arrest?

1. Non-traumatic cardiac arrest

2. Non-cardiac related fainting

3. Severe external bleeding

4. Critical head trauma

The correct answer is: Non-traumatic cardiac arrest

The indication for a medical cardiac arrest is primarily related to non-traumatic cardiac events. This includes situations where a patient is found unresponsive and without a pulse due to issues such as a heart attack, arrhythmias, or other cardiac dysfunctions. In these cases, prompt recognition of cardiac arrest is essential to initiate the appropriate protocol for resuscitation. Other scenarios listed do not represent medical cardiac arrest. Non-cardiac related fainting, for instance, might point to a different underlying cause that doesn’t involve the heart's functioning, such as vasovagal syncope or dehydration. Severe external bleeding signifies a trauma-associated event, which falls outside the bounds of medical cardiac arrests. Critical head trauma also indicates a type of traumatic event rather than a cardiac-related issue. Thus, identifying non-traumatic cardiac arrest as the indication aligns precisely with the clinical definition needed for proper medical intervention.