AHA PALS Exam Questions & Answers 2026/2027 | Verified
100% Correct | Pediatric Advanced Life Support
This document is designed to provide comprehensive practice for the AHA PALS 2026 exam. It
includes 100+ carefully curated questions covering:
• Pediatric Assessment & Initial Management
• CPR & Cardiac Arrest
• Airway & Breathing Interventions
• Shock & Circulation
• Arrhythmias & ECG Interpretation
• Pharmacology & Emergency Medications
Features:
• Verified answers with detailed rationales
• Aligned with AHA 2026 guidelines
• Rapid review and scenario-based questions
• Suitable for self-study or group review sessions
1. What is the first step in assessing a child who is unresponsive?
Answer: Check responsiveness and call for help.
Rationale: Always assess responsiveness first and activate emergency response before
interventions.
2. How long should you check a pulse in a child?
Answer: No longer than 10 seconds.
Rationale: Prolonged pulse checks delay CPR and worsen outcomes.
3. Which item is NOT part of assessing the initial impression?
A. Consciousness
B. Breathing
C. Deformity
D. Color
Answer: C. Deformity
Rationale: Initial impression focuses on Appearance, Work of breathing, and Circulation
(color), not deformity.
4. A child is unresponsive and not breathing, but has a pulse. What do you do next?
Answer: Open the airway and provide ventilations with oxygen.
Rationale: Rescue breaths support oxygenation when a pulse exists without normal
breathing.
5. Which sign indicates impending respiratory failure in a child?
Answer: Bradypnea or irregular breathing.
Rationale: Slow or irregular respirations suggest fatigue and imminent respiratory arrest.
, CPR & Cardiac Arrest
6. After determining a child has no pulse, the next action is:
Answer: Begin CPR.
Rationale: High-quality CPR should begin immediately when there is no pulse.
7. During single-rescuer CPR for a child, what is the compression-to-ventilation ratio?
Answer: 30:2
Rationale: The ratio ensures adequate compressions with ventilations in pediatric CPR.
8. For two rescuers, what CPR ratio is recommended for a child?
Answer: 15:2
Rationale: Two rescuers improves ventilation and perfusion cooperation.
9. Recommended compression rate in children is:
Answer: 100–120/min.
Rationale: This rate maximizes blood flow during CPR.
10. Recommended compression depth for children is:
Answer: One-third of chest depth.
Rationale: Ensures adequate compression without injury.
Airway & Breathing Interventions
11. Preferred method to confirm endotracheal tube placement in a pediatric patient:
Answer: Continuous waveform capnography.
Rationale: Provides the most reliable ongoing confirmation of correct airway placement.
12. If IV/IO access isn’t immediately available during resuscitation, the next best route
is:
Answer: IO access.
Rationale: Intraosseous access rapidly provides reliable vascular entry.
13. True or False: Epinephrine may be given via ET tube if IV/IO isn’t possible.
Answer: True
Rationale: Endotracheal epinephrine is less effective, but acceptable when IV/IO is not
possible.
14. In pediatric anaphylaxis with hypotension, the first-line treatment is:
Answer: Epinephrine IM 0.01 mg/kg (1:1,000).
Rationale: Intramuscular epinephrine is the primary treatment for anaphylaxis.
Shock & Circulation
15. Initial fluid bolus for a child in shock:
Answer: 20 mL/kg of isotonic crystalloid over 5–10 minutes.
Rationale: Rapid fluid bolus improves circulating volume in shock.
100% Correct | Pediatric Advanced Life Support
This document is designed to provide comprehensive practice for the AHA PALS 2026 exam. It
includes 100+ carefully curated questions covering:
• Pediatric Assessment & Initial Management
• CPR & Cardiac Arrest
• Airway & Breathing Interventions
• Shock & Circulation
• Arrhythmias & ECG Interpretation
• Pharmacology & Emergency Medications
Features:
• Verified answers with detailed rationales
• Aligned with AHA 2026 guidelines
• Rapid review and scenario-based questions
• Suitable for self-study or group review sessions
1. What is the first step in assessing a child who is unresponsive?
Answer: Check responsiveness and call for help.
Rationale: Always assess responsiveness first and activate emergency response before
interventions.
2. How long should you check a pulse in a child?
Answer: No longer than 10 seconds.
Rationale: Prolonged pulse checks delay CPR and worsen outcomes.
3. Which item is NOT part of assessing the initial impression?
A. Consciousness
B. Breathing
C. Deformity
D. Color
Answer: C. Deformity
Rationale: Initial impression focuses on Appearance, Work of breathing, and Circulation
(color), not deformity.
4. A child is unresponsive and not breathing, but has a pulse. What do you do next?
Answer: Open the airway and provide ventilations with oxygen.
Rationale: Rescue breaths support oxygenation when a pulse exists without normal
breathing.
5. Which sign indicates impending respiratory failure in a child?
Answer: Bradypnea or irregular breathing.
Rationale: Slow or irregular respirations suggest fatigue and imminent respiratory arrest.
, CPR & Cardiac Arrest
6. After determining a child has no pulse, the next action is:
Answer: Begin CPR.
Rationale: High-quality CPR should begin immediately when there is no pulse.
7. During single-rescuer CPR for a child, what is the compression-to-ventilation ratio?
Answer: 30:2
Rationale: The ratio ensures adequate compressions with ventilations in pediatric CPR.
8. For two rescuers, what CPR ratio is recommended for a child?
Answer: 15:2
Rationale: Two rescuers improves ventilation and perfusion cooperation.
9. Recommended compression rate in children is:
Answer: 100–120/min.
Rationale: This rate maximizes blood flow during CPR.
10. Recommended compression depth for children is:
Answer: One-third of chest depth.
Rationale: Ensures adequate compression without injury.
Airway & Breathing Interventions
11. Preferred method to confirm endotracheal tube placement in a pediatric patient:
Answer: Continuous waveform capnography.
Rationale: Provides the most reliable ongoing confirmation of correct airway placement.
12. If IV/IO access isn’t immediately available during resuscitation, the next best route
is:
Answer: IO access.
Rationale: Intraosseous access rapidly provides reliable vascular entry.
13. True or False: Epinephrine may be given via ET tube if IV/IO isn’t possible.
Answer: True
Rationale: Endotracheal epinephrine is less effective, but acceptable when IV/IO is not
possible.
14. In pediatric anaphylaxis with hypotension, the first-line treatment is:
Answer: Epinephrine IM 0.01 mg/kg (1:1,000).
Rationale: Intramuscular epinephrine is the primary treatment for anaphylaxis.
Shock & Circulation
15. Initial fluid bolus for a child in shock:
Answer: 20 mL/kg of isotonic crystalloid over 5–10 minutes.
Rationale: Rapid fluid bolus improves circulating volume in shock.
