BLS Practice Test

15:1 is not a correct compression to ventilation ratio and will result in inadequate perfusion. 30:1 is not a correct ratio and will result in inadequate ventilation. 30:2 is the ILCOR expert consensus for the correct ratio of compressions to ventilations. 15:2 is not the correct ratio for compressions to ventilations in single rescuer CPR.

Changing roles after every cycle of CPR will create too many interruptions and impair successful resuscitation. Changing roles after every 2 cycles of CPR will create frequent interruptions in perfusion and is not consistent with ILCOR recommendations. Changing roles after every 5 cycles of CPR is the currently recommended frequency to promote high quality CPR. CPR is physically demanding and waiting to switch roles every 10 cycles will likely fatigue the rescuer performing chest compressions resulting in lower quality CPR.

The patient must be analyzed before the AED will advise a shock This represents the correct steps for operating an AED. The rhythm must be analyzed before the AED will advise a shock. A pulse check should have been done prior to attaching the AED and is not part of AED operation. This sequence does not begin with powering on the AED.

The brachial artery located on the upper arm is used in infants below 1 year old. The ulnar artery is not used to perform pulse checks in BLS. The temporal artery is not used to perform pulse checks in BLS. The carotid and femoral arteries are used to perform pulse checks in BLS on children from 1 year of age to puberty.

The 2020 ILCOR guidelines recommend starting CPR before initiating rescue breathing. Assessing the victim, activating EMS, rapid use of an AED, checking pulse, and beginning CPR is the correct sequence of events for BLS. The 2020 ILCOR guidelines recommend initiating CPR prior to giving rescue breaths, and this sequence does not activate EMS. This sequence fails to activate EMS.

Minimizing interruption of circulation by quickly recognizing cardiac arrest and beginning CPR is an important characteristic of high-quality CPR and is emphasized by the ILCOR guidelines. Pushing hard enough to compress the heart and squeeze blood out, and fast enough to raise blood pressure is a vital characteristic of high-quality CPR and is emphasized in the 2020 ILCOR guidelines. Minimizing interruptions in CPR keeps blood pressure high enough to perfuse vital organs including the heart and brain and is critical to improving outcomes in cardiac arrest.

Early CPR provides vital oxygen to the brain and vital organs increasing the likelihood of recovery. Rapid defibrillation increases the chance of effectively restoring a normal heart rhythm. Advanced airway placement is not part of the BLS adult chain of survival. Post cardiac arrest care reduces the possibility of long-term impairment and increases the chance of a victim making a full recovery.

The recommended steps for CPR is are chest compressions, airway management, and rescue breathing. Chest compressions have the greatest impact for survival. Many rescuers fail to push hard or fast enough. High-quality chest compressions have the greatest chance to save a life.

Poor airway exchange results in impaired ventilation and may be a sign of airway obstruction. High pitched noise while inhaling, called stridor, is a sign of upper airway impairment and may represent a partial airway obstruction. Speech requires movement of air across the vocal cords. An airway obstruction will prevent this air movement and therefore speech. All of the above represent signs of possible airway obstruction.

Twenty to thirty breaths per minute will result in hyperventilation which impedes return of spontaneous circulation. One breath every 4 to 5 seconds will result in hyperventilation and is faster than the ILCOR guidelines recommend. One breath every 6 to 8 seconds results in 8 to 10 breaths per minute, and is the correct ventilation rate for an adult victim with an advanced airway. One breath every 10 to 12 seconds is slower than ILCOR guidelines recommend.