Under what condition is an EMT required to perform CPR?

Performing CPR is a critical skill aimed at preserving life in emergency situations. The condition that necessitates the performance of CPR is when a patient is not breathing, unresponsive, and has no pulse. This indicates that the patient is in cardiac arrest, where circulation and effective breathing have stopped.

In this scenario, the absence of a pulse means that the heart is not effectively pumping blood throughout the body. Without immediate intervention, such as CPR, the patient is at risk of brain death and other organ failure due to lack of oxygenated blood. Therefore, the requirement for an EMT to perform CPR in this circumstance aligns with established emergency protocols aimed at increasing the chances of survival until further medical help arrives.

In contrast, if a patient is conscious and responsive, or if they have a pulse but are unresponsive, alternative interventions would be more appropriate instead of CPR. Lastly, if a patient explicitly requests not to receive CPR, EMTs must respect their autonomy and prior wishes, assuming proper documentation such as a Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order is in place.