What is the purpose of early defibrillation in the chain of survival?

Early defibrillation is essential in the chain of survival because it serves the specific purpose of restoring a normal heart rhythm in a person experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest often leads to fatal arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation, where the heart quivers ineffectively instead of pumping blood. Defibrillation delivers a controlled electric shock to the heart, which can reset its electrical activity, potentially bringing it back to a normal rhythm.

Timely defibrillation significantly increases survival rates, especially when done within the first few minutes of cardiac arrest. This is why it is such a critical link in the chain of survival – it addresses the root issue of the malfunctioning heart directly and can make the difference between life and death. While other options like performing CPR or alerting emergency services are important components of the overall emergency response, they do not directly correct the fatal arrhythmias that defibrillation targets.