Take the free BLS Pretest provided below in order to prepare you for our official BLS online exam. The practice exam consists of 10 multiple-choice questions that are derived from the BLS provider handbook and adhere to the latest AHA and ECC guidelines. Correct answers & explanations will be shown once the practice test is submitted.=======================================
- The initial Basic Life Support (BLS) steps for adults are:
Assess the victim, give 2 rescue breaths, defibrillate, start CPR
Check pulse, give rescue breaths, assess the victim, defibrillate
Assess the victim, activate EMS and get AED, check pulse, start CPR
Assess the victim, start CPR, give 2 rescue breaths, defibrillate
Answer Explanation==============================
The 2010 AHA 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 2010 AHA guidelines recommend initiating CPR prior to giving rescue breaths, and this sequence does not activate EMS.
This sequence fails to activate EMS.
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- The 2010 AHA Guidelines for CPR recommended BLS sequence of steps are:
Airway, Breathing, Check Pulse
None of the above
Airway, Breathing, Chest Compressions
Chest compressions, Airway, Breathing=======================================================================================
Answer Explanation
The 2010 guidelines recommend beginning with chest compressions to perfuse the brain, heart and other organs as soon as possible.
The AHA no longer recommends beginning with “Airway” as it delays initiation of chest compressions.
The AHA changed from “A, B, C” to “C, A, B” in 2010 to emphasize the importance of early chest compressions in successful resuscitation.
None of the above is incorrect.======================================================================================
- In an adult with an advanced airway in place during 2-rescuer CPR, breaths should be administered how often?
Every 2 to 3 seconds ( 20 to 30 breaths per minute)
Every 10 to 12 seconds ( 5 to 6 breaths per minute)
Every 4 to 5 seconds ( 12 to 15 breaths per minute)
Every 6 to 8 seconds ( 8 to 10 breaths per minute)
Answer Explanation=================================
Twenty to thirty breaths per minute will result in hyperventilation which impedes the return of spontaneous circulation.
One breath every 4 to 5 seconds will result in hyperventilation and is faster than the AHA 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 AHA guidelines recommend.====================================================================================
- Signs of airway obstruction include which of the following?
Poor air exchange
Inability to speak
High-pitched noise while inhaling
All of the above=========================================================================================
Answer Explanation
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.====================================================================================
- The proper steps for operating an AED are:
Attach electrode pads, check pulse, shock patient, analyze rhythm
Check pulse, attach electrode pads, analyze rhythm, shock patient
Power on the AED, attach electrodes pads, analyze the rhythm, clear the patient, deliver shock
Power on the AED, attach electrode pads, shock the patient, analyze the rhythm========================================================================================
Answer Explanation
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 5 links in the adult Chain of Survival include all of the following EXCEPT:
Advanced airway placement
Early CPR
Integrated Post-Cardiac Arrest Care
Rapid Defibrillation
Answer Explanation
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.
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- How often should rescuers switch roles when performing 2-rescuer CPR?
- After every 5 cycles of CPR
After every 10 cycles of CPR
After every cycle of CPR
After every 2 cycles of CPR
Answer Explanation
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 AHA 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 compression to ventilation ratio for the lone rescuer giving CPR to victims of ANY age is:
15:2
10:1
30:1
- 30:2
Answer Explanation
10:1 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 AHA expert consensus for the correct ratio of compressions to ventilation.
15:2 is not the correct ratio for compressions to ventilation in single rescuer CPR.==================================================================================
Where should you attempt to perform a pulse check on a child from 1 year of age to puberty
-
Ulnar artery
Brachial artery
Temporal artery
Carotid or Femoral artery
Answer Explanation
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 critical characteristics of high-quality CPR include which of the following?
Push hard and fast
Minimize interruptions
Starting chest compressions within 10 seconds of recognition of cardiac arrest
All of the above
Answer Explanation
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 AHA 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 2010 AHA 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.