VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION (VF) AND PULSELESS VENTRICULAR
TACHYCARDIA (VT) [ALS] EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
RECOGNITION - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Unconscious, pulseless patient with ventricular fibrillation (VF)
or ventricular tachycardia (VT) on ECG and
where the cardiac arrest may be witnessed or unwitnessed
EMS Witnessed Arrest - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅In keeping with the time-to-defibrillation focus of the
2005 AHA
Guidelines, a "Witnessed Cardiac Arrest" is one where the patient's collapse and pulselessness
occur in the presence of the EMT and a defibrillator shock can be delivered within 30 seconds
Unwitnessed Arrest: - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Other cardiac arrest situations where a defibrillator shock
cannot be
delivered within 30 seconds
1 - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Check the pulse
2 - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅If Unwitnessed Cardiac Arrest, begin CPR using the current sequence
recommended by the
American Heart Association and deliver about 5 cycles or 2 minutes of CPR while obtaining and
preparing defibrillator.
3 - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅If Witnessed Cardiac Arrest, proceed to immediate defibrillation.
4a - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Immediately apply "quick-look" paddles or "hands-free" electrodes. Use
adult standard paddles/pads for
all patients > 1 year old (10 kg.) and ensure adequate spacing (>3cm.) between paddles/pads. Use
infant paddles/pads on patients < 1 year old. Anterior/posterior placement where possible is preferred.
, 4b - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Identify VF or VT. Changing the location of the electrodes may reveal VF that
first appears to be asystole.
4c - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Record initial ECG rhythm and attempted defibrillations; attach copies of the
rhythm strips to the
hospital copy of theRI EMS Ambulance Run Report, as part of required documentation.
5 - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Adult patients: Check pulse and identify rhythm. If VF/VT persists, defibrillate
at 360 joules
monophasic or manufacturer's biphasic setting.
6 - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Immediately resume CPR and perform any additional defibrillations per
current AHA guidelines.
7a - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Check rhythm after performance of cycles of defibrillation and CPR
according to AHA guidelines.
7b - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅If VF/VT is converted to another perfusing rhythm check pulse, reassess the
patient, and follow all
appropriate protocols.
7c - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅If VF/VT persists, continue treatment as indicated below.
8a - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Begin or continue CPR sequence following current AHA guidelines
8b - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅DO NOT INTERRUPT CPR FOR MORE THAN 5 SECONDS EXCEPT FOR A
MAXIMUM OF 30 SECONDS TO DEFIBRILLATE, MOVE THE PATIENT OR PERFORM
ADVANCED AIRWAY TECHNIQUES WHEN INDICATED. IF SAFE PATIENT
TRANSPORT WILL CAUSE DELAYS, PERFORM ALS INTERVENTIONS PRIOR TO
PATIENT MOVMENT IF POSSIBLE.
TACHYCARDIA (VT) [ALS] EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
RECOGNITION - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Unconscious, pulseless patient with ventricular fibrillation (VF)
or ventricular tachycardia (VT) on ECG and
where the cardiac arrest may be witnessed or unwitnessed
EMS Witnessed Arrest - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅In keeping with the time-to-defibrillation focus of the
2005 AHA
Guidelines, a "Witnessed Cardiac Arrest" is one where the patient's collapse and pulselessness
occur in the presence of the EMT and a defibrillator shock can be delivered within 30 seconds
Unwitnessed Arrest: - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Other cardiac arrest situations where a defibrillator shock
cannot be
delivered within 30 seconds
1 - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Check the pulse
2 - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅If Unwitnessed Cardiac Arrest, begin CPR using the current sequence
recommended by the
American Heart Association and deliver about 5 cycles or 2 minutes of CPR while obtaining and
preparing defibrillator.
3 - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅If Witnessed Cardiac Arrest, proceed to immediate defibrillation.
4a - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Immediately apply "quick-look" paddles or "hands-free" electrodes. Use
adult standard paddles/pads for
all patients > 1 year old (10 kg.) and ensure adequate spacing (>3cm.) between paddles/pads. Use
infant paddles/pads on patients < 1 year old. Anterior/posterior placement where possible is preferred.
, 4b - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Identify VF or VT. Changing the location of the electrodes may reveal VF that
first appears to be asystole.
4c - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Record initial ECG rhythm and attempted defibrillations; attach copies of the
rhythm strips to the
hospital copy of theRI EMS Ambulance Run Report, as part of required documentation.
5 - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Adult patients: Check pulse and identify rhythm. If VF/VT persists, defibrillate
at 360 joules
monophasic or manufacturer's biphasic setting.
6 - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Immediately resume CPR and perform any additional defibrillations per
current AHA guidelines.
7a - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Check rhythm after performance of cycles of defibrillation and CPR
according to AHA guidelines.
7b - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅If VF/VT is converted to another perfusing rhythm check pulse, reassess the
patient, and follow all
appropriate protocols.
7c - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅If VF/VT persists, continue treatment as indicated below.
8a - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅Begin or continue CPR sequence following current AHA guidelines
8b - CORRECT ANSWER✅✅DO NOT INTERRUPT CPR FOR MORE THAN 5 SECONDS EXCEPT FOR A
MAXIMUM OF 30 SECONDS TO DEFIBRILLATE, MOVE THE PATIENT OR PERFORM
ADVANCED AIRWAY TECHNIQUES WHEN INDICATED. IF SAFE PATIENT
TRANSPORT WILL CAUSE DELAYS, PERFORM ALS INTERVENTIONS PRIOR TO
PATIENT MOVMENT IF POSSIBLE.
