Ace the Basic Life Support (BLS) Challenge 2026 – Breathe Life into Your Skills!

When the AED is analyzing the heart rhythm, it is crucial to ensure that no one is in physical contact with the patient. This is because any movement or electrical interference from a person touching the patient could affect the analysis and potentially lead to an inaccurate reading. Clearing the patient ensures that the AED can properly assess the heart's rhythm without distractions or interruptions.

Continuing CPR during the analysis is not advised, as it could interfere with the AED's ability to analyze effectively. Checking for a pulse at this time is not appropriate since the AED's analysis takes precedence in a cardiac arrest situation, and administering oxygen would also be irrelevant during the AED analysis phase. Therefore, the proper action is to clear the patient to ensure a safe and accurate assessment by the AED.