HEART & STROKE ACLS QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS 100% CORRECT RATED
A+
Phase 1: The BLS Assessment Sequence ✔️✔️
1. Assess for Responsiveness: Tap the victim's shoulders and shout to see if
they react.
2. Call for Backup: Immediately shout for nearby help, activate the
emergency response system (911 or Code Blue), and send someone to
retrieve an AED.
3. The Simultaneous Check: Look for normal breathing and feel for a carotid
pulse for at least 5 seconds, but no more than 10 seconds.
4. Initiate CPR: If there is no pulse, start high-quality chest compressions
immediately at a ratio of 30 compressions to 2 breaths.
5. Defibrillate: As soon as the AED arrives, power it on and follow the voice
prompts to check for a shockable rhythm.
Phase 2: Respiratory Arrest (Pulse Present) ✔️✔️
If the patient has a detectable pulse but is not breathing or is only gasping:
Provide Rescue Breaths: Deliver 1 breath every 5 to 6 seconds (roughly
10–12 breaths per minute).
Monitor Circulation: Re-check the pulse every 2 minutes. If the pulse
disappears at any point, transition immediately to full CPR.
Phase 3: Chest Compression Metrics ✔️✔️
To ensure blood is actually reaching the brain and heart, compressions must meet
these strict criteria:
, Rate: 100 to 120 compressions per minute (following the beat of "Stayin'
Alive").
Depth: At least 2 inches (5 cm) but no more than 2.4 inches (6 cm) for an
adult.
Recoil: Ensure the chest returns to its original position completely between
each push.
Coronary Perfusion Pressure (CPP) -ANSWER ✔️✔️Aortic diastolic pressure minus
atrial diastolic pressure. Correlates with both myocardial blood flow and ROSC.
Goal CPP > 15 mmHg during CPR (importance of minimizing interruptions!)
Primary Assessment Steps (Adult) -ANSWER ✔️✔️Completed after BLS
Assessment
AIRWAY
BREATHING
CIRCULATION
DISABILITY
EXPOSURE
Primary Assessment: Airway -ANSWER ✔️✔️- Maintain airway patency in
unconscious patients (head tilt-chin lift or OPA)
- Assess whether an advanced airway is needed
- If advanced airway is present: has proper placement been assessed via
capnography? is the tube secured? reconfirm placement frequently during
resuscitation
Primary Assessment: Breathing -ANSWER ✔️✔️- For cardiac arrest patients,
administer 100% oxygen
, - Monitor the adequacy of ventilation and oxygenation (chest rise and cyanosis,
capnography, oxygen saturation)
- Avoid excess ventilation
Primary Assessment: Circulation -ANSWER ✔️✔️- Monitor CPR quality
(capnography PetCO2 >10 mmHg)
- Determine cardiac rhythm
- Provide defibrillation/cardioversion, if indicated
- Obtain IV/IO access
- Give medications to manage rhythm and BP
- Check glucose
Primary Assessment: Disability -ANSWER ✔️✔️- Check for neurologic function:
responsiveness, level of consciousness, pupil dilation
- AVPU: alert, voice, painful, unresponsive
Primary Assessment: Exposure -ANSWER ✔️✔️- Remove clothing to complete a
physical examination, looking for obvious signs of trauma, bleeding, burns
Secondary Assessment -ANSWER ✔️✔️Focused medical history and searching
for/treating underlying causes (Hs and Ts)
Signs & Symptoms
Allergies
Medications (including last dose taken)
Past medical history
Last meal consumed
AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE
SOLUTIONS 100% CORRECT RATED
A+
Phase 1: The BLS Assessment Sequence ✔️✔️
1. Assess for Responsiveness: Tap the victim's shoulders and shout to see if
they react.
2. Call for Backup: Immediately shout for nearby help, activate the
emergency response system (911 or Code Blue), and send someone to
retrieve an AED.
3. The Simultaneous Check: Look for normal breathing and feel for a carotid
pulse for at least 5 seconds, but no more than 10 seconds.
4. Initiate CPR: If there is no pulse, start high-quality chest compressions
immediately at a ratio of 30 compressions to 2 breaths.
5. Defibrillate: As soon as the AED arrives, power it on and follow the voice
prompts to check for a shockable rhythm.
Phase 2: Respiratory Arrest (Pulse Present) ✔️✔️
If the patient has a detectable pulse but is not breathing or is only gasping:
Provide Rescue Breaths: Deliver 1 breath every 5 to 6 seconds (roughly
10–12 breaths per minute).
Monitor Circulation: Re-check the pulse every 2 minutes. If the pulse
disappears at any point, transition immediately to full CPR.
Phase 3: Chest Compression Metrics ✔️✔️
To ensure blood is actually reaching the brain and heart, compressions must meet
these strict criteria:
, Rate: 100 to 120 compressions per minute (following the beat of "Stayin'
Alive").
Depth: At least 2 inches (5 cm) but no more than 2.4 inches (6 cm) for an
adult.
Recoil: Ensure the chest returns to its original position completely between
each push.
Coronary Perfusion Pressure (CPP) -ANSWER ✔️✔️Aortic diastolic pressure minus
atrial diastolic pressure. Correlates with both myocardial blood flow and ROSC.
Goal CPP > 15 mmHg during CPR (importance of minimizing interruptions!)
Primary Assessment Steps (Adult) -ANSWER ✔️✔️Completed after BLS
Assessment
AIRWAY
BREATHING
CIRCULATION
DISABILITY
EXPOSURE
Primary Assessment: Airway -ANSWER ✔️✔️- Maintain airway patency in
unconscious patients (head tilt-chin lift or OPA)
- Assess whether an advanced airway is needed
- If advanced airway is present: has proper placement been assessed via
capnography? is the tube secured? reconfirm placement frequently during
resuscitation
Primary Assessment: Breathing -ANSWER ✔️✔️- For cardiac arrest patients,
administer 100% oxygen
, - Monitor the adequacy of ventilation and oxygenation (chest rise and cyanosis,
capnography, oxygen saturation)
- Avoid excess ventilation
Primary Assessment: Circulation -ANSWER ✔️✔️- Monitor CPR quality
(capnography PetCO2 >10 mmHg)
- Determine cardiac rhythm
- Provide defibrillation/cardioversion, if indicated
- Obtain IV/IO access
- Give medications to manage rhythm and BP
- Check glucose
Primary Assessment: Disability -ANSWER ✔️✔️- Check for neurologic function:
responsiveness, level of consciousness, pupil dilation
- AVPU: alert, voice, painful, unresponsive
Primary Assessment: Exposure -ANSWER ✔️✔️- Remove clothing to complete a
physical examination, looking for obvious signs of trauma, bleeding, burns
Secondary Assessment -ANSWER ✔️✔️Focused medical history and searching
for/treating underlying causes (Hs and Ts)
Signs & Symptoms
Allergies
Medications (including last dose taken)
Past medical history
Last meal consumed
