Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) Practice Exam 2026 - Free ACLS Practice Questions and Study Guide

When sudden cardiac arrest is suspected, the first step should be to ensure scene safety and activate emergency medical services (EMS). This involves assessing the surrounding environment for any potential hazards that could pose risks to both the rescuer and the victim. Ensuring safety is crucial because rescuers must be in a secure environment to provide effective help without jeopardizing their own safety.

Activating EMS is equally important as it brings professional medical assistance to the scene as quickly as possible. This helps ensure that advanced care can be provided promptly, which is essential for improving outcomes in cases of cardiac arrest. Without this initial step, any subsequent resuscitation efforts may be futile without proper medical support arriving on scene.

Once scene safety is established and EMS has been contacted, other steps such as providing chest compressions or using a defibrillator can be initiated, but the priority lies in ensuring safety and getting help.