AHA BLS EXAM STUDY GUIDE 2026
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
EXPERT VERIFIED GRADED A+
⩥ High-quality CPR.
Answer: Start compressions within 10 seconds of recognition of cardiac
arrest.
Push hard, push fast: rate of 100/min with a depth of at least 2 in (5cm)
for adults, approximately 2 in (5cm) for children, and approximately 1.5
in (4cm) for infants.
Allow complete chest recoil for each compression.
Minimize interruptions in compressions (limit to less than 10s).
Give effective breaths that make the chest rise.
Avoid excessive ventilation.
⩥ Chain of survival: Pediatric.
Answer: 1 - Prevention of arrest
2 - Early high-quality CPR
3 - Rapid activation of the EMS (or other emergency response) system
4 - Effective advanced life support (including rapid stabilization and
transport to definitive care and rehab)
5 - Integrated post-cardiac arrest care
,⩥ 2010 AHA Key Changes (sequence).
Answer: Changes in BLS sequence from ABC (airway, breathing, chest
compressions) to CAB (chest compressions, airway, breathing) for
adults, children, and infants.
This is because chest compressions were often delayed while rescuer
opened airway, deliver mouth-to-mouth, retrieve barrier device, or
gathered and assembled ventilation equipment.
CAB makes delivery of compressions sooner and the delay in giving
breaths sooner - deliver first cycle of 30 compressions (approximately
18 seconds or less); for 2-rescuer infant or child CPR the delay will be
even shorter.
⩥ 2010 AHA key Changes (Emphasis on High-Quality CPR).
Answer: Compression rate of at least 100/min (rather than
"approximately")
Depth of at least 2 in (5cm) for adults and children, 1.5 in (5cm) for
infants. No longer 1.5 - 2 in for adults and absolute depth for children
and infants is deeper than in previous guidelines.
Allowing complete chest recoil, minimizing interruptions in
compressions, and avoiding excessive ventilation continue to be
important in high-quality CPR.
Increased focus on a team approach to CPR.
Example: one rescuer activates EMS, second begins compressions, third
is either providing ventilation or getting equip for it, fourth is getting the
defibrillator and preparing to use it.
, ⩥ 2010 AHA Key Changes (No Look, Listen, Feel).
Answer: Step removed because bystanders often failed to start CPR
when they observed agonal gasping. Activate EMS and check for
response and breathing simultaneously. If adult is unresponsive and not
breathing normally (only gasping) and has no pulse, begin CPR. For
infant and child, CPR is performed if the victim is unresponsive and not
breathing only gasping and has no pulse.
For all victims (except newborns) CPR begins with compressions and
then opening airway and giving 2 breaths per cycle.
⩥ Additional Changes.
Answer: Use of cricoid pressure in cardiac arrest victims not
recommended - can prevent gastric inflation and reduce risk of
regurgitation and aspiration, but may also block ventilation. Can delay
placement of advanced airway.
Continued de-emphasis of pulse check: difficult to detect absence of
pulse within 10s. If within 10s not able to detect, begin chest
compressions.
Use of AED for infants: Manual defibrillator is preferred to AED. If
unavailable, use pediatric dose attenuator, if that isn't available, use AED
without pediatric dose attenuator.
⩥ BLS components.
Answer: Chest compressions, Airway, Breathing, Defib
UPDATED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
EXPERT VERIFIED GRADED A+
⩥ High-quality CPR.
Answer: Start compressions within 10 seconds of recognition of cardiac
arrest.
Push hard, push fast: rate of 100/min with a depth of at least 2 in (5cm)
for adults, approximately 2 in (5cm) for children, and approximately 1.5
in (4cm) for infants.
Allow complete chest recoil for each compression.
Minimize interruptions in compressions (limit to less than 10s).
Give effective breaths that make the chest rise.
Avoid excessive ventilation.
⩥ Chain of survival: Pediatric.
Answer: 1 - Prevention of arrest
2 - Early high-quality CPR
3 - Rapid activation of the EMS (or other emergency response) system
4 - Effective advanced life support (including rapid stabilization and
transport to definitive care and rehab)
5 - Integrated post-cardiac arrest care
,⩥ 2010 AHA Key Changes (sequence).
Answer: Changes in BLS sequence from ABC (airway, breathing, chest
compressions) to CAB (chest compressions, airway, breathing) for
adults, children, and infants.
This is because chest compressions were often delayed while rescuer
opened airway, deliver mouth-to-mouth, retrieve barrier device, or
gathered and assembled ventilation equipment.
CAB makes delivery of compressions sooner and the delay in giving
breaths sooner - deliver first cycle of 30 compressions (approximately
18 seconds or less); for 2-rescuer infant or child CPR the delay will be
even shorter.
⩥ 2010 AHA key Changes (Emphasis on High-Quality CPR).
Answer: Compression rate of at least 100/min (rather than
"approximately")
Depth of at least 2 in (5cm) for adults and children, 1.5 in (5cm) for
infants. No longer 1.5 - 2 in for adults and absolute depth for children
and infants is deeper than in previous guidelines.
Allowing complete chest recoil, minimizing interruptions in
compressions, and avoiding excessive ventilation continue to be
important in high-quality CPR.
Increased focus on a team approach to CPR.
Example: one rescuer activates EMS, second begins compressions, third
is either providing ventilation or getting equip for it, fourth is getting the
defibrillator and preparing to use it.
, ⩥ 2010 AHA Key Changes (No Look, Listen, Feel).
Answer: Step removed because bystanders often failed to start CPR
when they observed agonal gasping. Activate EMS and check for
response and breathing simultaneously. If adult is unresponsive and not
breathing normally (only gasping) and has no pulse, begin CPR. For
infant and child, CPR is performed if the victim is unresponsive and not
breathing only gasping and has no pulse.
For all victims (except newborns) CPR begins with compressions and
then opening airway and giving 2 breaths per cycle.
⩥ Additional Changes.
Answer: Use of cricoid pressure in cardiac arrest victims not
recommended - can prevent gastric inflation and reduce risk of
regurgitation and aspiration, but may also block ventilation. Can delay
placement of advanced airway.
Continued de-emphasis of pulse check: difficult to detect absence of
pulse within 10s. If within 10s not able to detect, begin chest
compressions.
Use of AED for infants: Manual defibrillator is preferred to AED. If
unavailable, use pediatric dose attenuator, if that isn't available, use AED
without pediatric dose attenuator.
⩥ BLS components.
Answer: Chest compressions, Airway, Breathing, Defib
