You arrive at a convenience store to find a middle-aged male in cardiac arrest. Your protocols provide for standing orders in this type of scenario. This means that you should:

In this scenario, standing orders indicate that you have the authority to perform specific interventions based on established protocols without needing to contact medical control first. This approach is designed to expedite care in critical situations, such as a cardiac arrest, where every moment counts.

By performing certain interventions prior to making contact with medical control, you can initiate life-saving measures like CPR, defibrillation, or the administration of specific medications as dictated by your standing orders. This not only aligns with best practices but also ensures that the patient receives timely and potentially life-saving treatment.

It's important to emphasize that standing orders provide the necessary guidelines and permissions to act decisively in emergencies, which is essential when dealing with events like cardiac arrest where delays can lead to poorer outcomes.