Final answer:
In the event of asystole where there is no electrical activity in the heart, the expected heart rate is zero as the heart is not beating. CPR and medication are the appropriate treatments, not defibrillation, which is used for conditions with erratic electrical activity such as ventricular fibrillation.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the event of asystole, which represents a state where there is a total lack of normal electrical activity in the heart, you would expect the heart rate (pulse) to be absent. This is because asystole is essentially a flatline on an electrocardiogram (EKG) indicating that the heart has ceased generating electrical pulses that usually control the heartbeat. In such a case, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the administration of life-saving drugs like epinephrine are standard treatments. However, contrary to popular belief and what is often shown in media, electrical defibrillation is not typically used to treat asystole. Defibrillation is effective in cases of ventricular fibrillation or certain types of ventricular tachycardia where there is still electrical activity in the heart, but in an irregular, uncoordinated fashion that prevents the heart from effectively pumping blood. In such cases, the application of an electrical shock by an automated external defibrillator (AED) can terminate the arrhythmia and allow the body's natural pacemaker to resume its normal rhythm.
For instance, during a ventricular fibrillation, which is an uncontrolled, erratic heartbeat, the quick intervention with an AED can be life-saving. The defibrillator delivers a controlled electrical shock to the heart, effectively 'resetting' the heart's electrical system, and allowing it to regain a normal rhythm. Hence, while everyday connections with AEDs are increasing and these lifesaving devices are found in many public places, their use is specific to particular types of cardiac emergencies, not asystole.