37.10. In which case should cardiopulmonary resuscitation be stopped in casualties?
UAВ якому випадку слід припинити проведення серцево-легеневої реанімації у постраждалих?
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This is an exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerning pre-medical assistance after a traffic accident and is directly related to road safety: the driver or witness must not only call 103, but also maintain the victim's vital functions until the arrival of medical professionals. In real-life situations, the correct tactics during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can determine whether a person gets a chance to survive, so the theoretical exam checks not for "formality," but for a practically important action algorithm.
The section of the traffic rules being tested concerns the driver's duties in the event of involvement in a traffic accident, in particular point 2.10 of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine: to take possible measures to provide pre-medical assistance and to call an emergency medical team. The logic is simple: in the absence of consciousness and normal breathing, resuscitation measures are performed as continuously as possible, after first ensuring airway patency, and are continued until there are grounds for stopping and handing over the victim to specialists.
The option to stop CPR after the arrival of the emergency medical team is correct, because medical professionals have the equipment and authority to continue resuscitation without losing time, and your task as a witness is to hand over the victim to those who can provide professional help. In contrast, restrictions such as "after 15 minutes" or "after 30 minutes" are incorrect: in the rules of pre-medical assistance and in the context of the Traffic Rules of Ukraine, there is no universal time after which resuscitation should be stopped, since pauses and premature cessation reduce the chances of restoring vital functions and contradict the purpose of providing assistance until the arrival of the emergency medical team.
Clause 2.10 (driver's duties in case of involvement in a road traffic accident, first aid and calling EMS)
In case of involvement in a road traffic accident, the driver is obliged, in particular: to take possible measures to provide first aid to the victims, to call an emergency (ambulance) medical team.
This clause of the Traffic Rules checks the understanding that first aid (including CPR if indicated) is provided until the arrival of professional medical assistance, and it is precisely the arrival of the EMS team that is the basis for handing over the victim to them for further resuscitation measures.
Clause 2.10 (driver's duties in case of involvement in a road traffic accident, transporting the victim to a healthcare facility)
In case of involvement in a road traffic accident, the driver is obliged, in particular: if necessary, to transport the victim to the nearest healthcare facility (if possible — by passing transport or their own vehicle).
This provision additionally emphasizes that the priority is the fastest possible involvement/transfer of the victim to medical workers (EMS or a healthcare facility), not the cessation of assistance "by time".
That is, the correct answer is "Arrival of the EMS team, after which they will continue resuscitation measures," given that according to the definition of the Traffic Rules, the driver in the event of a road accident is obliged to take possible measures to provide first aid and ensure the involvement/transfer of the victim to emergency medical care.
When the casualty is unconscious and not breathing normally, this is grounds to immediately begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Your task as a witness to a traffic accident or other incident is to maintain blood circulation and airflow as continuously as possible, since even short pauses reduce the effectiveness of resuscitation actions.
Before starting resuscitation, you need to ensure the airway is clear: carefully clean the mouth of anything that might block airflow (for example, vomit, blood clots, sand). Then, resuscitation measures should be performed without interruption until there are objective reasons to stop.
One clear reason to stop resuscitation is the arrival of an emergency medical team. The logic is simple: medical professionals have the equipment and skills to continue and expand resuscitation measures, and they also assume responsibility for further actions. In this situation, you are not "abandoning" the casualty, but handing them over to specialists who will continue resuscitation at the appropriate level.
Imagine a practical situation: you have started CPR, someone has called 103, and in a few minutes an EMS team arrives. At this moment, it is correct to stop your actions yourself only when the medical professionals are ready to take over and continue resuscitation without any loss of time.
Therefore, the correct answer is "The arrival of the EMS team, after which they will continue resuscitation measures," since resuscitation must be performed continuously until the casualty is handed over to specialists who can immediately continue and enhance resuscitation actions.