American Red Cross CPR/AED Certification | Official
Exam Review Guide 2026/2027 | Complete Study
System with Practice Tests & Skill Drills
PART 1: CORE ALGORITHM & KEY FACTS (2023/2024)
Universal Steps for an Unresponsive Victim
1. Ensure scene safety.
2. Check responsiveness – tap & shout.
3. Shout for help.
● Adult/child (alone): Activate EMS & retrieve AED before starting CPR.
● Infant (alone): Provide 2 min CPR, then activate EMS.
4. Check breathing & pulse simultaneously (≤10 s).
5. If no normal breathing & no pulse (or unsure):
● Begin CPR – start with 30 compressions.
● Rate: 100–120/min.
● Depth:
○ Adult: ≥2 in (5 cm), ≤2.4 in (6 cm).
○ Child: ~2 in (5 cm).
○ Infant: ~1.5 in (4 cm).
● Technique:
○ Adult/child: heel of 2 hands.
○ Infant 1-rescuer: 2 fingers.
○ Infant 2-rescuers: 2-thumb-encircling.
● Ratio (single rescuer): 30:2 all ages.
6. Use AED as soon as available. Clear during analysis & shock; resume CPR
immediately after shock.
Rescue Breathing (pulse, no breathing)
● Adult: 1 breath every 5–6 s (10–12/min).
● Child/infant: 1 breath every 3–5 s (12–20/min).
,Choking – Responsive
● Adult/child: 5 back blows → 5 abdominal thrusts.
● Infant: 5 back blows → 5 chest thrusts (no abdominal thrusts).
Choking – Unresponsive
● Begin CPR starting with 30 compressions; look in mouth before breaths; remove
visible object with finger sweep (hook motion; blind sweeps only in infants).
PART 2: SCENARIO-BASED PRACTICE EXAM (50 Questions)
1. You arrive alone and find an unresponsive adult. Scene is safe. You tap & shout—no
response. Next action?
A. Check breathing & pulse.
B. Give 2 rescue breaths.
C. Activate EMS & get AED. [CORRECT]
D. Begin chest compressions.
Rationale: Adult protocol—activate EMS before starting CPR when alone.
2. Correct hand placement for adult compressions?
A. Heel of one hand on upper sternum.
B. Heel of one hand on center of chest, other hand on top. [CORRECT]
C. Two fingers on lower sternum.
D. Heel of hand on left side of chest.
Rationale: Lower half of sternum, heel of one hand, other on top, fingers interlaced.
, 3. Single rescuer CPR compression-to-ventilation ratio for a 7-year-old?
A. 15:2
B. 30:2 [CORRECT]
C. 5:1
D. 3:1
Rationale: 30:2 for all ages when single rescuer.
4. You find an infant unresponsive, not breathing, no pulse (≤10 s). Alone, no phone.
What first?
A. Call 911, then return and start CPR.
B. Start CPR for 2 min, then call 911. [CORRECT]
C. Give 5 back blows.
D. Give 2 rescue breaths.
Rationale: Infant alone—2 min CPR first, then activate EMS.
5. Adult compression depth 2023/2024?
A. At least 1 in
B. At least 2 in, ≤2.4 in [CORRECT]
C. 1.5 in
D. 3 in
Rationale: Adult: ≥2 in (5 cm), ≤2.4 in (6 cm).
Exam Review Guide 2026/2027 | Complete Study
System with Practice Tests & Skill Drills
PART 1: CORE ALGORITHM & KEY FACTS (2023/2024)
Universal Steps for an Unresponsive Victim
1. Ensure scene safety.
2. Check responsiveness – tap & shout.
3. Shout for help.
● Adult/child (alone): Activate EMS & retrieve AED before starting CPR.
● Infant (alone): Provide 2 min CPR, then activate EMS.
4. Check breathing & pulse simultaneously (≤10 s).
5. If no normal breathing & no pulse (or unsure):
● Begin CPR – start with 30 compressions.
● Rate: 100–120/min.
● Depth:
○ Adult: ≥2 in (5 cm), ≤2.4 in (6 cm).
○ Child: ~2 in (5 cm).
○ Infant: ~1.5 in (4 cm).
● Technique:
○ Adult/child: heel of 2 hands.
○ Infant 1-rescuer: 2 fingers.
○ Infant 2-rescuers: 2-thumb-encircling.
● Ratio (single rescuer): 30:2 all ages.
6. Use AED as soon as available. Clear during analysis & shock; resume CPR
immediately after shock.
Rescue Breathing (pulse, no breathing)
● Adult: 1 breath every 5–6 s (10–12/min).
● Child/infant: 1 breath every 3–5 s (12–20/min).
,Choking – Responsive
● Adult/child: 5 back blows → 5 abdominal thrusts.
● Infant: 5 back blows → 5 chest thrusts (no abdominal thrusts).
Choking – Unresponsive
● Begin CPR starting with 30 compressions; look in mouth before breaths; remove
visible object with finger sweep (hook motion; blind sweeps only in infants).
PART 2: SCENARIO-BASED PRACTICE EXAM (50 Questions)
1. You arrive alone and find an unresponsive adult. Scene is safe. You tap & shout—no
response. Next action?
A. Check breathing & pulse.
B. Give 2 rescue breaths.
C. Activate EMS & get AED. [CORRECT]
D. Begin chest compressions.
Rationale: Adult protocol—activate EMS before starting CPR when alone.
2. Correct hand placement for adult compressions?
A. Heel of one hand on upper sternum.
B. Heel of one hand on center of chest, other hand on top. [CORRECT]
C. Two fingers on lower sternum.
D. Heel of hand on left side of chest.
Rationale: Lower half of sternum, heel of one hand, other on top, fingers interlaced.
, 3. Single rescuer CPR compression-to-ventilation ratio for a 7-year-old?
A. 15:2
B. 30:2 [CORRECT]
C. 5:1
D. 3:1
Rationale: 30:2 for all ages when single rescuer.
4. You find an infant unresponsive, not breathing, no pulse (≤10 s). Alone, no phone.
What first?
A. Call 911, then return and start CPR.
B. Start CPR for 2 min, then call 911. [CORRECT]
C. Give 5 back blows.
D. Give 2 rescue breaths.
Rationale: Infant alone—2 min CPR first, then activate EMS.
5. Adult compression depth 2023/2024?
A. At least 1 in
B. At least 2 in, ≤2.4 in [CORRECT]
C. 1.5 in
D. 3 in
Rationale: Adult: ≥2 in (5 cm), ≤2.4 in (6 cm).
