External (transcutaneous) pacing is a temporary means of pacing a patient’s heart during an emergency. Pulses of electrical current are delivered through the patient’s chest to stimulate the cardiac muscle to contract. It restores electrical stimulation to the myocardium in an emergency setting and its advantage is that it can be initiated quickly by any healthcare professional who has undertaken the necessary training. This article provides the reader with a greater understanding of external pacing by exploring some of the theoretical and practical issues associated with the procedure.