PALS SKILLS EXAM COMPREHENSIVE ACADEMIC STUDY GUIDE WITH
VERIFIED CONCEPTS AND EXAM-FOCUSED EXPLANATIONS 2025–2026
CPR rate, depth, how often to change - correct answer -100-120 bpm, > 1/2 AP diameter of
chest, every 2 mins
Compression-ventilation ratio for 2 rescuer pediatric CPR without advanced airway - correct
answer -15:2
Compression-ventilation ratio for 2 rescuer pediatric CPR with advanced airway - correct
answer -Give a breath every 2-3 seconds
Iniitial and subsequent shocks for defibrillation - correct answer -2 J/kg first shock, 4 J/kg 2nd
shock, > 4 J/kg to max 10 J/kg
epinephrine dose IV/IO, max dose, how often - correct answer -0.01 mg/kg of the 0.1 mg/ml
concentration (max dose 1 mg), q 3-5 mins
What is amiodarone given for, dose? - correct answer -refractory VF, pulseless VT, 5 mg/kg
bolus
Dose for lidocaine - correct answer -1 mg/kg loading dose
What is used to confirm ET tube placement - correct answer -capnography
What are the 6 Hs and how to recall them? - correct answer -Think about VS and labs: hypoxia,
hypovolemia, hypothermia, hypo/hyperkalemia, hypoglycemia, hydrogen ion (acidosis)
, What are the 5 Ts? - correct answer -Tension pneumothorax, tamponade cardiac, Toxins,
Thrombosis pulmonary/cardiac
What is the formula for calculating the inside diameter (ID) of an uncuffed endotracheal tube
based on age? - correct answer -(16 + age in years) / 4
What is the formula for calculating the inside diameter (ID) of a cuffed endotracheal tube based
on age? - correct answer -16 + age in years / 3.5
First steps if patient found down - correct answer -1. Bag-mask ventilation and give oxygen
2. Attach monitor/ defibrillator: identify rhythm
What does rhythm for VF look like? - correct answer -
What is the treatment for VF/ pVT - correct answer -1. Give a shock immediately
2. Give CPR for 2 minutes
3. Get IV access, consider advanced airway
4. Check the rhythm: if shockable, shock, resume CPR, give epi q 3-5 mins
SHOCK-CPR-SHOCK-CPR-EPI Q 3-5
What should you do if VF, pVT not resolving with shock/cpr/shock/cpr/epi - correct answer -
Consider Hs and Ts (hypovolemia, hypoxia, hyperthermia, hypoglycemia, hyper/hypokalemia;
tension pneumo, toxins, tamponade, thrombosis- card/pulm
What conditions are on the cardiac arrest algorithm? - correct answer -VF/p VT (shockable),
asystole, PEA
What does ventricular tachycardia look like on ECG? - correct answer -
VERIFIED CONCEPTS AND EXAM-FOCUSED EXPLANATIONS 2025–2026
CPR rate, depth, how often to change - correct answer -100-120 bpm, > 1/2 AP diameter of
chest, every 2 mins
Compression-ventilation ratio for 2 rescuer pediatric CPR without advanced airway - correct
answer -15:2
Compression-ventilation ratio for 2 rescuer pediatric CPR with advanced airway - correct
answer -Give a breath every 2-3 seconds
Iniitial and subsequent shocks for defibrillation - correct answer -2 J/kg first shock, 4 J/kg 2nd
shock, > 4 J/kg to max 10 J/kg
epinephrine dose IV/IO, max dose, how often - correct answer -0.01 mg/kg of the 0.1 mg/ml
concentration (max dose 1 mg), q 3-5 mins
What is amiodarone given for, dose? - correct answer -refractory VF, pulseless VT, 5 mg/kg
bolus
Dose for lidocaine - correct answer -1 mg/kg loading dose
What is used to confirm ET tube placement - correct answer -capnography
What are the 6 Hs and how to recall them? - correct answer -Think about VS and labs: hypoxia,
hypovolemia, hypothermia, hypo/hyperkalemia, hypoglycemia, hydrogen ion (acidosis)
, What are the 5 Ts? - correct answer -Tension pneumothorax, tamponade cardiac, Toxins,
Thrombosis pulmonary/cardiac
What is the formula for calculating the inside diameter (ID) of an uncuffed endotracheal tube
based on age? - correct answer -(16 + age in years) / 4
What is the formula for calculating the inside diameter (ID) of a cuffed endotracheal tube based
on age? - correct answer -16 + age in years / 3.5
First steps if patient found down - correct answer -1. Bag-mask ventilation and give oxygen
2. Attach monitor/ defibrillator: identify rhythm
What does rhythm for VF look like? - correct answer -
What is the treatment for VF/ pVT - correct answer -1. Give a shock immediately
2. Give CPR for 2 minutes
3. Get IV access, consider advanced airway
4. Check the rhythm: if shockable, shock, resume CPR, give epi q 3-5 mins
SHOCK-CPR-SHOCK-CPR-EPI Q 3-5
What should you do if VF, pVT not resolving with shock/cpr/shock/cpr/epi - correct answer -
Consider Hs and Ts (hypovolemia, hypoxia, hyperthermia, hypoglycemia, hyper/hypokalemia;
tension pneumo, toxins, tamponade, thrombosis- card/pulm
What conditions are on the cardiac arrest algorithm? - correct answer -VF/p VT (shockable),
asystole, PEA
What does ventricular tachycardia look like on ECG? - correct answer -
