In a patient with cardiac arrest who resumes breathing during compressions, what is your immediate action?

In a situation where a patient in cardiac arrest resumes breathing during chest compressions, the appropriate immediate action is to continue with compressions. This is because spontaneous breaths do not necessarily indicate that the patient's heart has restarted or is effectively circulating blood.

During cardiac arrest, the primary goal is to maintain perfusion to vital organs through continuous chest compressions, as they are critical in pushing blood through the system when the heart is unable to do so. If the patient begins to breathe on their own, it could be a sign of potential improvement, but the resumption of effective circulation cannot be confirmed without checking for a pulse. Hence, maintaining compressions is vital until you can confirm that the heart has resumed a viable rhythm and is pumping blood effectively.

Once a pulse is detected, the rescuer can then shift focus to providing appropriate ventilations and monitoring the patient's condition further. At that moment, maintaining circulation is crucial, and stopping compressions prematurely might lead to further deterioration.