PALS Red Cross Cardiac Arrest & Post-Cardiac Arrest Care
Comprehensive Pre-Assessment Review 2026 | High-Yield
Study Guide
1. When two rescuers are available to do CPR, one rescuer providers
compressions while the other rescuer maintains the airway and gives rescue
breaths. The rescuers must change roles:
After every 5 cycles of compressions and breathing (about every 2
minutes)
After each cycle of 30 compressions and 2 breaths
When the rescuer doing compressions becomes too tired to continue
compressions
After every 10 cycles of compressions and breathing (about every 10
minutes)
2. What is the first step in the primary assessment of a patient in cardiac arrest?
Check for responsiveness and breathing.
Perform chest compressions.
Administer medications immediately.
Call for emergency assistance.
3. What medication is commonly administered during post-cardiac arrest care
when seizure activity is detected?
Epinephrine
Aspirin
Amiodarone
Benzodiazepines
,4. In a scenario where a patient with ventricular fibrillation receives an initial
shock of 150 joules but remains in VF, what should be the next step in
management?
Continue CPR without further shocks.
Administer medications before the next shock.
Wait for the patient to stabilize before shocking again.
Administer a second shock with a higher energy dose.
5. In a scenario where a pediatric patient requires emergency medication
during cardiac arrest, how would the use of a length-based resuscitation
tape influence the treatment protocol?
It would eliminate the need for further assessment of the child's
condition.
It would provide a standard dosage for all children regardless of size.
It would delay treatment while measuring the child's length.
It would ensure that the correct medication dosage is administered
based on the child's length, optimizing the chances of a successful
outcome.
6. What is the characteristic appearance of ventricular fibrillation on an ECG?
Irregular, chaotic waveforms without identifiable QRS complexes
Regular, narrow QRS complexes
Sawtooth pattern of P waves
Wide, uniform QRS complexes
,7. How does a length-based resuscitation tape enhance the care provided to
pediatric patients in cardiac arrest?
It is used to monitor heart rhythms during resuscitation.
It allows for accurate medication dosing and equipment sizing
based on the child's length, improving treatment efficacy.
It provides a visual guide for performing CPR on children.
It helps in assessing the neurological function of pediatric patients.
8. The rhythm that appears in the ECG shown in Figure 3.1 is which of the
following?
Second-degree AV block type I
First-degree AV block
Second-degree AV block type II
Third-degree AV block
9. Immediate post-resuscitation a reasonable mean arterial pressure goal is:
> 65 mm Hg
, > 45 mm Hg
≥ 30 mm Hg
≥ 20 mm Hg
10. If an infant's temperature rises to 100.6°F (38.1°C) during post-cardiac arrest
care, what should be the immediate course of action?
Administer antipyretics only if the temperature exceeds 101°F (38.3°C).
Increase the ambient temperature to promote comfort.
Continue monitoring without intervention.
Initiate treatment for fever management.
11. What is the normal temperature threshold for initiating treatment in infants
post-cardiac arrest?
98.6°F (37°C)
100.4°F (38°C)
101°F (38.3°C)
99°F (37.2°C)
12. Describe the role of an EEG in the context of a patient who has experienced
cardiac arrest potentially due to a seizure.
An EEG evaluates lung function to rule out respiratory causes of
cardiac arrest.
An EEG measures blood flow to the brain to determine ischemia.
An EEG monitors electrical activity in the brain to identify seizure
activity that may have led to cardiac arrest.
Comprehensive Pre-Assessment Review 2026 | High-Yield
Study Guide
1. When two rescuers are available to do CPR, one rescuer providers
compressions while the other rescuer maintains the airway and gives rescue
breaths. The rescuers must change roles:
After every 5 cycles of compressions and breathing (about every 2
minutes)
After each cycle of 30 compressions and 2 breaths
When the rescuer doing compressions becomes too tired to continue
compressions
After every 10 cycles of compressions and breathing (about every 10
minutes)
2. What is the first step in the primary assessment of a patient in cardiac arrest?
Check for responsiveness and breathing.
Perform chest compressions.
Administer medications immediately.
Call for emergency assistance.
3. What medication is commonly administered during post-cardiac arrest care
when seizure activity is detected?
Epinephrine
Aspirin
Amiodarone
Benzodiazepines
,4. In a scenario where a patient with ventricular fibrillation receives an initial
shock of 150 joules but remains in VF, what should be the next step in
management?
Continue CPR without further shocks.
Administer medications before the next shock.
Wait for the patient to stabilize before shocking again.
Administer a second shock with a higher energy dose.
5. In a scenario where a pediatric patient requires emergency medication
during cardiac arrest, how would the use of a length-based resuscitation
tape influence the treatment protocol?
It would eliminate the need for further assessment of the child's
condition.
It would provide a standard dosage for all children regardless of size.
It would delay treatment while measuring the child's length.
It would ensure that the correct medication dosage is administered
based on the child's length, optimizing the chances of a successful
outcome.
6. What is the characteristic appearance of ventricular fibrillation on an ECG?
Irregular, chaotic waveforms without identifiable QRS complexes
Regular, narrow QRS complexes
Sawtooth pattern of P waves
Wide, uniform QRS complexes
,7. How does a length-based resuscitation tape enhance the care provided to
pediatric patients in cardiac arrest?
It is used to monitor heart rhythms during resuscitation.
It allows for accurate medication dosing and equipment sizing
based on the child's length, improving treatment efficacy.
It provides a visual guide for performing CPR on children.
It helps in assessing the neurological function of pediatric patients.
8. The rhythm that appears in the ECG shown in Figure 3.1 is which of the
following?
Second-degree AV block type I
First-degree AV block
Second-degree AV block type II
Third-degree AV block
9. Immediate post-resuscitation a reasonable mean arterial pressure goal is:
> 65 mm Hg
, > 45 mm Hg
≥ 30 mm Hg
≥ 20 mm Hg
10. If an infant's temperature rises to 100.6°F (38.1°C) during post-cardiac arrest
care, what should be the immediate course of action?
Administer antipyretics only if the temperature exceeds 101°F (38.3°C).
Increase the ambient temperature to promote comfort.
Continue monitoring without intervention.
Initiate treatment for fever management.
11. What is the normal temperature threshold for initiating treatment in infants
post-cardiac arrest?
98.6°F (37°C)
100.4°F (38°C)
101°F (38.3°C)
99°F (37.2°C)
12. Describe the role of an EEG in the context of a patient who has experienced
cardiac arrest potentially due to a seizure.
An EEG evaluates lung function to rule out respiratory causes of
cardiac arrest.
An EEG measures blood flow to the brain to determine ischemia.
An EEG monitors electrical activity in the brain to identify seizure
activity that may have led to cardiac arrest.
