Basic Life Support Exam A+
You are a member of the emergency response team for your hospital and are called to a code blue. You
arrive to find one of your colleagues leading a resuscitation attempt to an elderly patient. You notice
that the person performing chest compressions seems to be tiring, and the compression rate is slowing.
When should rescuers switch positions during CPR?
A. Never switch rescuers, and maintain current roles
B. Switch rescuers at 5 minute intervals
C. Switch rescuers about every 2 minutes
D. Switch rescuers when placing the AED pads Correct Answer: C. Switch rescuers about every 2
minutes
You are a member of the emergency response team for your hospital and are called to a code blue. You
arrive to find one of your colleagues leading a resuscitation attempt to an elderly patient. You notice
that the person performing chest compressions seems to be tiring, and the compression rate is slowing.
You notice the person giving chest compressions is not allowing for complete chest recoil. What is your
next course of action?
A. Stand back and await direction from the team leader
B. Take over leadership and give direction
C. Immediately take over chest compressions
D. Tell the compressor you notice decreased chest recoil Correct Answer: D. Tell the compressor you
notice decreased chest recoil
Which victim requires high quality CPR?
A. A victim who is unresponsive, has a strong pulse, and is breathing adequately
B. A victim who is unresponsive with no normal breathing and no pulse
C. A victim who is responsive, has a pulse, and is having trouble breathing
D. A victim who is responsive, is having trouble breathing, and has a pulse less than 60/min Correct
Answer: B. A victim who is unresponsive with no normal breathing and no pulse
While performing high-quality CPR on an adult, what action should you ensure is being accomplished?
A. Maintaining a compression rate of 90-120/min
B. Placing hands on the upper third of the sternum
C. Allowing the chest to recoil 1 inch
D. Compression to a depth of at least 2 inches Correct Answer: D. Compression to a depth of at least 2
inches
Why is defibrillation important?
A. It can restore a regular cardiac rhythm
, B. It prevents re-arrest from occurring
C. It is not important for cardiac arrest
D. There is a 100% success rate in regaining a normal cardiac rhythm Correct Answer: A. It can restore a
regular cardiac rhythm
Why is allowing complete chest recoil important when performing high-quality CPR?
A. There will be a reduction of rescuer fatigue
B. It will reduce the risk of rib fractures
C. The heart will adequately refill between compressions
D. The rate of chest compressions will increase Correct Answer: C. The heart will adequately refill
between compressions
A victim with a foreign-body airway obstruction becomes unresponsive. What is your first course of
action?
A. Start CPR, beginning with chest compressions
B. Roll the victim over and perform back blows
C. Perform abdominal thrusts
D. Perform blind finger sweeps Correct Answer: A. Start CPR, beginning with chest compressions
An 8-month old infant in the pediatric ward is eating lunch with the help of the ward volunteer. The
infant suddenly begins to cough and is unable to make any noise shortly after. The volunteer picks up
the infant and shouts for help.
You have determined that the infant is responsive and choking with a severe airway obstruction. How do
you relieve the airway obstruction?
A. Encourage the infant to cough
B. Give sets of 5 back slaps and 5 chest thrusts
C. Begin 2 thumb-encircling hands chest compressions
D. Give abdominal thrusts Correct Answer: B. Give sets of 5 back slaps and 5 chest thrusts
An 8-month old infant in the pediatric ward is eating lunch with the help of the ward volunteer. The
infant suddenly begins to cough and is unable to make any noise shortly after. The volunteer picks up
the infant and shouts for help.
Which action do you perform to relieve choking in an unresponsive infant?
A. Perform CPR, and look in the mouth for the obstructing object
B. Give sets of 5 back slaps and 5 chest thrusts
C. Give sets of 5 abdominal thrusts and 5 back slaps
D. Attempt a blind finger sweep when giving breaths to remove the obstructing object Correct Answer:
A. Perform CPR, and look in the mouth for the obstructing object
What is a consideration when using an AED?
A. You should never remove a transdermal medication patch before applying AED pads
You are a member of the emergency response team for your hospital and are called to a code blue. You
arrive to find one of your colleagues leading a resuscitation attempt to an elderly patient. You notice
that the person performing chest compressions seems to be tiring, and the compression rate is slowing.
When should rescuers switch positions during CPR?
A. Never switch rescuers, and maintain current roles
B. Switch rescuers at 5 minute intervals
C. Switch rescuers about every 2 minutes
D. Switch rescuers when placing the AED pads Correct Answer: C. Switch rescuers about every 2
minutes
You are a member of the emergency response team for your hospital and are called to a code blue. You
arrive to find one of your colleagues leading a resuscitation attempt to an elderly patient. You notice
that the person performing chest compressions seems to be tiring, and the compression rate is slowing.
You notice the person giving chest compressions is not allowing for complete chest recoil. What is your
next course of action?
A. Stand back and await direction from the team leader
B. Take over leadership and give direction
C. Immediately take over chest compressions
D. Tell the compressor you notice decreased chest recoil Correct Answer: D. Tell the compressor you
notice decreased chest recoil
Which victim requires high quality CPR?
A. A victim who is unresponsive, has a strong pulse, and is breathing adequately
B. A victim who is unresponsive with no normal breathing and no pulse
C. A victim who is responsive, has a pulse, and is having trouble breathing
D. A victim who is responsive, is having trouble breathing, and has a pulse less than 60/min Correct
Answer: B. A victim who is unresponsive with no normal breathing and no pulse
While performing high-quality CPR on an adult, what action should you ensure is being accomplished?
A. Maintaining a compression rate of 90-120/min
B. Placing hands on the upper third of the sternum
C. Allowing the chest to recoil 1 inch
D. Compression to a depth of at least 2 inches Correct Answer: D. Compression to a depth of at least 2
inches
Why is defibrillation important?
A. It can restore a regular cardiac rhythm
, B. It prevents re-arrest from occurring
C. It is not important for cardiac arrest
D. There is a 100% success rate in regaining a normal cardiac rhythm Correct Answer: A. It can restore a
regular cardiac rhythm
Why is allowing complete chest recoil important when performing high-quality CPR?
A. There will be a reduction of rescuer fatigue
B. It will reduce the risk of rib fractures
C. The heart will adequately refill between compressions
D. The rate of chest compressions will increase Correct Answer: C. The heart will adequately refill
between compressions
A victim with a foreign-body airway obstruction becomes unresponsive. What is your first course of
action?
A. Start CPR, beginning with chest compressions
B. Roll the victim over and perform back blows
C. Perform abdominal thrusts
D. Perform blind finger sweeps Correct Answer: A. Start CPR, beginning with chest compressions
An 8-month old infant in the pediatric ward is eating lunch with the help of the ward volunteer. The
infant suddenly begins to cough and is unable to make any noise shortly after. The volunteer picks up
the infant and shouts for help.
You have determined that the infant is responsive and choking with a severe airway obstruction. How do
you relieve the airway obstruction?
A. Encourage the infant to cough
B. Give sets of 5 back slaps and 5 chest thrusts
C. Begin 2 thumb-encircling hands chest compressions
D. Give abdominal thrusts Correct Answer: B. Give sets of 5 back slaps and 5 chest thrusts
An 8-month old infant in the pediatric ward is eating lunch with the help of the ward volunteer. The
infant suddenly begins to cough and is unable to make any noise shortly after. The volunteer picks up
the infant and shouts for help.
Which action do you perform to relieve choking in an unresponsive infant?
A. Perform CPR, and look in the mouth for the obstructing object
B. Give sets of 5 back slaps and 5 chest thrusts
C. Give sets of 5 abdominal thrusts and 5 back slaps
D. Attempt a blind finger sweep when giving breaths to remove the obstructing object Correct Answer:
A. Perform CPR, and look in the mouth for the obstructing object
What is a consideration when using an AED?
A. You should never remove a transdermal medication patch before applying AED pads
