In the cardiac chain of survival, 'early access' refers to:

• A. Starting CPR right away for a victim without signs of circulation.
• B. Calling emergency services before any intervention
• C. Checking for a pulse before starting CPR
• D. Waiting for signs of life before acting

Answer: (A)

Early action in a cardiac arrest means getting help on the way and starting life-saving steps without delay. In this item, the idea is that if a person is unresponsive and not showing signs of circulation, you don’t wait to “see” life signs or to do a pulse check first—you begin CPR right away. Starting chest compressions immediately helps maintain blood flow to the brain and heart while you arrange emergency support, effectively accessing the system and initiating care at once.

Calling emergency services is also essential, but the scenario here emphasizes the initiatory action of providing care without hesitation. Waiting to check a pulse or waiting for signs of life can waste precious seconds; if there’s no circulation, CPR should begin promptly.