What is the clinical name for victims requiring CPR?

The clinical name for victims requiring CPR is cardiac arrest. This condition occurs when the heart stops beating effectively, leading to a cessation of blood flow to the brain and other vital organs. Cardiac arrest is a critical situation where immediate intervention through cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is necessary to restore circulation and oxygen to the body's tissues.

While respiratory failure and hypoxia are serious conditions that can also result in a need for CPR, they typically do not signify that the heart has stopped beating, whereas cardiac arrest directly indicates that the heart is no longer functioning properly. Ventricular fibrillation is a specific heart rhythm problem that can lead to cardiac arrest, but it is not the general term used for victims requiring CPR. Thus, cardiac arrest accurately describes the state of a victim who needs CPR as it emphasizes the urgency of restoring heart function.