What should be done if a patient has no pulse?

When a patient is found to have no pulse, it indicates a critical situation that requires immediate intervention to restore circulation and oxygen supply to vital organs. Starting CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is essential because it helps maintain blood flow to the heart and brain until advanced medical help arrives. The addition of requesting an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is crucial, as it can assess the heart rhythm and deliver an electric shock if necessary, which may restore a normal heart rhythm in cases of cardiac arrest.

Other options, while they are part of emergency assessment and care, are not appropriate actions to take when there is no pulse. Performing a capillary refill test or checking for breathing may not provide any immediate benefit or life-saving measures in this life-threatening situation, particularly since the absence of a pulse typically corresponds with the patient being unresponsive and without adequate breathing. Providing rescue breaths without compressions would also lack the necessary circulatory support that CPR offers in this critical scenario.