When administering CPR, what is the correct sequence of actions after turning on the AED?

After turning on the AED, the next step is to expose the chest and attach the pads. This action is crucial because the AED needs to analyze the heart rhythm to determine if a shock is necessary. Proper placement of the pads on the bare chest ensures that the device can correctly assess the heart's electrical activity. It’s important to minimize interruptions in CPR during this process, but the priority immediately following the AED activation is to prepare the patient for defibrillation by ensuring that the pads are attached correctly.

In the context of the other options, even though they are important aspects of the overall CPR procedure, they come into play at different stages. Resuming chest compressions generally occurs after the pads are in place and the AED has completed its analysis; giving rescue breaths may occur in specific scenarios but follows a different sequence; and checking for emergency medical services would be part of the initial assessment and not the immediate next step after turning on the AED. Thus, the correct action of exposing the chest and attaching the pads is fundamental to the effective use of an AED during CPR.