Blind defibrillation outside the hospital

Blind defibrillation, defibrillation of an unconscious, pulseless adult without electrocardiographic verification of arrhythmia, allows early definitive treatment of cardiac arrest victims. Basic EMT-As have the ability to perform blind defibrillation in a prehospital setting, and place an esophageal obturator airway. When basic EMT-As are performing blind defibrillation, there should be a standard operating procedure involving diagnosis, defibrillation, CPR and re-evaluation.