[PALS RED CROSS CARDIAC ARREST AND POST-CARDIAC
ARREST CARE PREASSESSMENT EXAM LATEST 2026]
COMPLETE EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS |
2026–2027 LATEST UPDATE | GUARANTEED PASS | DETAILED
RATIONALES | FULL STUDY GUIDE | EXAM PREP | PRACTICE
TEST | CERTIFICATION PREPARATION
1. A pediatric patient is found unresponsive and not breathing normally. What is the first
appropriate action?
A. Check carotid pulse for 60 seconds
B. Begin high-quality CPR immediately
C. Administer oxygen via nasal cannula
D. Obtain IV access first
Correct Answer: B. Begin high-quality CPR immediately
Rationale: In pediatric cardiac arrest, immediate initiation of high-quality CPR is critical. Pulse checks
should not delay compressions. Oxygen and IV access come after CPR is initiated.
2. What is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for a single rescuer performing CPR on a
child?
A. 30:2
B. 15:2
C. 10:1
D. 5:1
Correct Answer: A. 30:2
Rationale: Single-rescuer CPR for children uses a 30:2 ratio. Two-rescuer CPR would use 15:2.
3. Which sign most strongly indicates poor perfusion in a pediatric patient?
A. Warm flushed skin
B. Brisk capillary refill
C. Cool, mottled extremities
D. Bounding pulses
Correct Answer: C. Cool, mottled extremities
Rationale: Cool, mottled skin indicates poor peripheral perfusion. Warm skin and brisk refill suggest
adequate circulation.
4. During pediatric CPR, how deep should chest compressions be?
A. About 1 inch
B. At least 1/3 the chest depth
C. Half the chest depth
D. Only until pulse returns
Correct Answer: B. At least 1/3 the chest depth
Rationale: Guidelines recommend compressing at least one-third of the anterior-posterior chest
diameter in children.
5. A child in cardiac arrest is in a shockable rhythm. What is the first-line treatment?
A. Epinephrine
,B. Amiodarone
C. Defibrillation
D. Atropine
Correct Answer: C. Defibrillation
Rationale: VF/pulseless VT requires immediate defibrillation as the priority intervention.
6. What is the most reliable indicator of effective CPR?
A. Skin color improvement
B. End-tidal CO₂ level
C. Presence of spontaneous movement
D. Blood pressure measurement
Correct Answer: B. End-tidal CO₂ level
Rationale: End-tidal CO₂ reflects cardiac output during CPR and is a strong indicator of CPR quality.
7. Which medication is administered first in pediatric asystole?
A. Amiodarone
B. Epinephrine
C. Lidocaine
D. Adenosine
Correct Answer: B. Epinephrine
Rationale: Epinephrine is the first-line medication for non-shockable rhythms like asystole and PEA.
8. A child has return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). What is the priority next step?
A. Stop all interventions
B. Begin post-cardiac arrest care
C. Administer atropine immediately
D. Remove airway support
Correct Answer: B. Begin post-cardiac arrest care
Rationale: ROSC requires structured post-arrest care including airway, oxygenation, perfusion, and
neurological monitoring.
9. What oxygen saturation target is generally recommended after ROSC in children?
A. 70–75%
B. 80–85%
C. 94–99%
D. 100% at all times
Correct Answer: C. 94–99%
Rationale: Avoid both hypoxia and hyperoxia; target oxygen saturation is typically 94–99%.
10. What is the primary goal of post-cardiac arrest care?
A. Immediate discharge
B. Prevent recurrence of arrest and organ damage
C. Stop all sedation
D. Reduce fluid intake
Correct Answer: B. Prevent recurrence of arrest and organ damage
Rationale: Post-arrest care focuses on stabilizing organ systems and preventing secondary injury.
11. Which rhythm is considered non-shockable?
A. Ventricular fibrillation
B. Pulseless ventricular tachycardia
, C. Asystole
D. Supraventricular tachycardia
Correct Answer: C. Asystole
Rationale: Asystole and PEA are non-shockable rhythms requiring CPR and epinephrine.
12. What is the correct rate of chest compressions for pediatric CPR?
A. 60–80/min
B. 80–100/min
C. 100–120/min
D. 140–160/min
Correct Answer: C. 100–120/min
Rationale: Recommended compression rate is 100–120 per minute for high-quality CPR.
13. Which airway intervention is preferred for a child requiring advanced airway management?
A. Oropharyngeal airway only
B. Endotracheal intubation
C. Nasal cannula
D. Simple face mask
Correct Answer: B. Endotracheal intubation
Rationale: Endotracheal intubation provides a definitive airway in advanced resuscitation.
14. A rescuer notices fatigue during CPR. What is the best action?
A. Stop CPR completely
B. Switch rescuers immediately
C. Decrease compression depth
D. Increase ventilation rate
Correct Answer: B. Switch rescuers immediately
Rationale: Frequent rotation maintains compression quality and prevents rescuer fatigue.
15. What is the recommended pause duration during defibrillation?
A. 30 seconds
B. 20 seconds
C. Less than 10 seconds
D. 1 minute
Correct Answer: C. Less than 10 seconds
Rationale: Interruptions in chest compressions should be minimized to less than 10 seconds.
16. What is a common reversible cause of pediatric cardiac arrest?
A. Hypertension
B. Hypovolemia
C. Hyperthyroidism
D. Hypercalcemia
Correct Answer: B. Hypovolemia
Rationale: Hypovolemia is one of the Hs and Ts contributing to reversible arrest causes.
17. What is the first action after identifying VF on a monitor?
A. Administer epinephrine
B. Start CPR for 2 minutes
C. Deliver shock immediately
D. Check blood pressure
ARREST CARE PREASSESSMENT EXAM LATEST 2026]
COMPLETE EXAM QUESTIONS AND VERIFIED ANSWERS |
2026–2027 LATEST UPDATE | GUARANTEED PASS | DETAILED
RATIONALES | FULL STUDY GUIDE | EXAM PREP | PRACTICE
TEST | CERTIFICATION PREPARATION
1. A pediatric patient is found unresponsive and not breathing normally. What is the first
appropriate action?
A. Check carotid pulse for 60 seconds
B. Begin high-quality CPR immediately
C. Administer oxygen via nasal cannula
D. Obtain IV access first
Correct Answer: B. Begin high-quality CPR immediately
Rationale: In pediatric cardiac arrest, immediate initiation of high-quality CPR is critical. Pulse checks
should not delay compressions. Oxygen and IV access come after CPR is initiated.
2. What is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for a single rescuer performing CPR on a
child?
A. 30:2
B. 15:2
C. 10:1
D. 5:1
Correct Answer: A. 30:2
Rationale: Single-rescuer CPR for children uses a 30:2 ratio. Two-rescuer CPR would use 15:2.
3. Which sign most strongly indicates poor perfusion in a pediatric patient?
A. Warm flushed skin
B. Brisk capillary refill
C. Cool, mottled extremities
D. Bounding pulses
Correct Answer: C. Cool, mottled extremities
Rationale: Cool, mottled skin indicates poor peripheral perfusion. Warm skin and brisk refill suggest
adequate circulation.
4. During pediatric CPR, how deep should chest compressions be?
A. About 1 inch
B. At least 1/3 the chest depth
C. Half the chest depth
D. Only until pulse returns
Correct Answer: B. At least 1/3 the chest depth
Rationale: Guidelines recommend compressing at least one-third of the anterior-posterior chest
diameter in children.
5. A child in cardiac arrest is in a shockable rhythm. What is the first-line treatment?
A. Epinephrine
,B. Amiodarone
C. Defibrillation
D. Atropine
Correct Answer: C. Defibrillation
Rationale: VF/pulseless VT requires immediate defibrillation as the priority intervention.
6. What is the most reliable indicator of effective CPR?
A. Skin color improvement
B. End-tidal CO₂ level
C. Presence of spontaneous movement
D. Blood pressure measurement
Correct Answer: B. End-tidal CO₂ level
Rationale: End-tidal CO₂ reflects cardiac output during CPR and is a strong indicator of CPR quality.
7. Which medication is administered first in pediatric asystole?
A. Amiodarone
B. Epinephrine
C. Lidocaine
D. Adenosine
Correct Answer: B. Epinephrine
Rationale: Epinephrine is the first-line medication for non-shockable rhythms like asystole and PEA.
8. A child has return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). What is the priority next step?
A. Stop all interventions
B. Begin post-cardiac arrest care
C. Administer atropine immediately
D. Remove airway support
Correct Answer: B. Begin post-cardiac arrest care
Rationale: ROSC requires structured post-arrest care including airway, oxygenation, perfusion, and
neurological monitoring.
9. What oxygen saturation target is generally recommended after ROSC in children?
A. 70–75%
B. 80–85%
C. 94–99%
D. 100% at all times
Correct Answer: C. 94–99%
Rationale: Avoid both hypoxia and hyperoxia; target oxygen saturation is typically 94–99%.
10. What is the primary goal of post-cardiac arrest care?
A. Immediate discharge
B. Prevent recurrence of arrest and organ damage
C. Stop all sedation
D. Reduce fluid intake
Correct Answer: B. Prevent recurrence of arrest and organ damage
Rationale: Post-arrest care focuses on stabilizing organ systems and preventing secondary injury.
11. Which rhythm is considered non-shockable?
A. Ventricular fibrillation
B. Pulseless ventricular tachycardia
, C. Asystole
D. Supraventricular tachycardia
Correct Answer: C. Asystole
Rationale: Asystole and PEA are non-shockable rhythms requiring CPR and epinephrine.
12. What is the correct rate of chest compressions for pediatric CPR?
A. 60–80/min
B. 80–100/min
C. 100–120/min
D. 140–160/min
Correct Answer: C. 100–120/min
Rationale: Recommended compression rate is 100–120 per minute for high-quality CPR.
13. Which airway intervention is preferred for a child requiring advanced airway management?
A. Oropharyngeal airway only
B. Endotracheal intubation
C. Nasal cannula
D. Simple face mask
Correct Answer: B. Endotracheal intubation
Rationale: Endotracheal intubation provides a definitive airway in advanced resuscitation.
14. A rescuer notices fatigue during CPR. What is the best action?
A. Stop CPR completely
B. Switch rescuers immediately
C. Decrease compression depth
D. Increase ventilation rate
Correct Answer: B. Switch rescuers immediately
Rationale: Frequent rotation maintains compression quality and prevents rescuer fatigue.
15. What is the recommended pause duration during defibrillation?
A. 30 seconds
B. 20 seconds
C. Less than 10 seconds
D. 1 minute
Correct Answer: C. Less than 10 seconds
Rationale: Interruptions in chest compressions should be minimized to less than 10 seconds.
16. What is a common reversible cause of pediatric cardiac arrest?
A. Hypertension
B. Hypovolemia
C. Hyperthyroidism
D. Hypercalcemia
Correct Answer: B. Hypovolemia
Rationale: Hypovolemia is one of the Hs and Ts contributing to reversible arrest causes.
17. What is the first action after identifying VF on a monitor?
A. Administer epinephrine
B. Start CPR for 2 minutes
C. Deliver shock immediately
D. Check blood pressure
