What happens during ventricular fibrillation?

During ventricular fibrillation, the heart's electrical activity becomes chaotic. This condition prevents the heart from contracting in a coordinated manner, leading to ineffective quivering rather than a forceful, organized contraction. As a result, the heart fails to pump blood effectively to the body, which can rapidly lead to a lack of oxygen in vital organs and can be life-threatening.

In the context of basic life support (BLS), recognizing and responding to ventricular fibrillation is critical, as this arrhythmia is a common cause of cardiac arrest. Immediate defibrillation is often necessary to restore a normal heart rhythm. Understanding this chaotic electrical activity helps learners appreciate the urgency of intervention in such emergencies.