When should you begin CPR on an adult patient?

Initiating CPR on an adult patient is critical when they are unresponsive and not breathing. This situation indicates that the individual is in cardiac arrest, where the heart is no longer effectively pumping blood to the body, leading to a lack of oxygenation and ultimately threatening life.

Properly assessing the patient's responsiveness is essential; if a person does not respond to verbal or physical stimuli, this points to a loss of consciousness. Equally important is the absence of breathing; if the patient is not breathing or is breathing abnormally, CPR should be initiated immediately. This dual criterion—unresponsiveness and lack of normal breathing—provides a clear indication that the patient requires immediate resuscitative efforts to restore circulation and ensure survival until advanced medical help arrives.

The other scenarios presented, such as showing signs of severe distress, having a weak pulse, or beginning to cough, do not meet the criteria for starting CPR. Severe distress indicates some level of responsiveness and breathing may still be present. A weak pulse suggests there is some cardiac output, while coughing is a sign of airway reflexes being intact and not an indication that CPR is necessary. Therefore, the correct action is to begin CPR when the patient is unresponsive and not breathing.