Emergency Medicine Physician how-to

How to Run a Cardiac Arrest Code

Organized codes save lives.

Updated By the Career Education Institute Curriculum Team
Quick answer

Organized codes save lives. In short: start; attach; shock, then complete the remaining steps below.

Step by step

  1. Start high-quality CPR.

  2. Attach the defibrillator.

  3. Shock if indicated.

  4. Give medications per ACLS.

  5. Look for reversible causes.

  6. Assign roles and keep time.

Safety reminders for emergency medicine physicians

  • Follow infection control
  • Use de-escalation for aggressive patients
  • Use sharps safety
  • Follow trauma and code protocols

Triage · Resuscitation · ACLS · Trauma activation · Intubation · FAST exam: see the full emergency medicine physician glossary.

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