Which item is commonly needed with a defibrillator?

Which item is commonly needed with a defibrillator?

• A. Oxygen tank
• B. Syringe
• C. Defibrillation pads
• D. IV tubing

Answer: (C)

When using a defibrillator, the essential accessory is the defibrillation pads. These pads conduct the electrical energy from the device to the heart and must be placed on the patient’s bare chest (typically one pad on the upper right chest and the other on the lower left chest or as directed by the device). Without pads, the shock has no path to reach the heart, so the defibrillator cannot deliver its energy. Oxygen tanks, syringes, and IV tubing may be used in the broader emergency response, but none of them are required for delivering a defibrillatory shock.

When using a defibrillator, the essential accessory is the defibrillation pads. These pads conduct the electrical energy from the device to the heart and must be placed on the patient’s bare chest (typically one pad on the upper right chest and the other on the lower left chest or as directed by the device). Without pads, the shock has no path to reach the heart, so the defibrillator cannot deliver its energy. Oxygen tanks, syringes, and IV tubing may be used in the broader emergency response, but none of them are required for delivering a defibrillatory shock.