What is the primary goal of using an AED on a patient?

Using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) primarily aims to restart the heart's normal rhythm when a patient is experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest. When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, their heart often enters a state of ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia, where it quivers instead of pumping effectively. The AED analyzes the heart's rhythm and delivers an electrical shock if it detects these life-threatening arrhythmias.

This shock can help restore a normal rhythm, allowing the heart to resume its role in effectively pumping blood throughout the body and delivering oxygen to vital organs. The prompt use of an AED in conjunction with CPR can significantly improve the likelihood of survival for a cardiac arrest victim.

The other choices don't represent the primary function of an AED. While monitoring vital signs and providing oxygen are essential aspects of patient care during an emergency, they are not the direct functions of the AED. Stabilizing a patient's general condition can be a part of the emergency response but does not encompass the specific action provided by the AED.