Final answer:
Cardiac rhythms associated with cardiac arrest, primarily ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia, are severe ventricular arrhythmias requiring immediate intervention with an External Automated Defibrillator.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cardiac rhythms commonly associated with cardiac arrest include ventricular fibrillation (VF) and ventricular tachycardia (VT). These arrhythmias are classified under ventricular rhythms due to their origin in the heart's ventricles. Both are life-threatening and can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.
Ventricular fibrillation is characterized by a rapid and chaotic heart rhythm that results in the heart's inability to pump blood effectively. It is often caused by a disruption in the heart's electrical system and requires immediate treatment with defibrillation. Ventricular tachycardia, on the other hand, is a fast, regular beating of the ventricles that can also degenerate into ventricular fibrillation if not treated promptly.
External Automated Defibrillators (EADs) are critical in treating these rhythms, as they provide the necessary electrical shock to stop the arrhythmia and allow the heart's natural pacemaker to restore a normal sinus rhythm.