Which of the following is NOT a part of the cardiac chain of survival?

The cardiac chain of survival is a series of critical actions that can be taken to improve the outcome for a person experiencing a cardiac emergency. The components typically include early recognition of cardiac arrest, early activation of emergency medical services, early CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), and early defibrillation.

Hospitalization is not considered a part of this chain because it occurs after the initial emergency response and does not directly contribute to the immediate survival of the patient in the event of cardiac arrest. The focus of the chain of survival is on timely and effective interventions in the moments following a cardiac event to restore circulation and improve chances of survival before and during the transfer to a hospital. Thus, while hospitalization is certainly crucial in the overall treatment process, it does not fit within the steps taken in the immediate response phase, making it the correct choice for this question.