BLS Algorithm Flashcard 1
Rationale
D. Rationale: The rescuer must check for responsiveness by tapping on the patient’s shoulder and shouting, “Are you okay?” If the patient is unresponsive, the rescuer should shout for help and activate EMS (via mobile device if appropriate). Next, they should request that someone retrieve an AED and then check for the patient’s pulse and breathing.
Question
A 24-year-old was rescued from drowning and brought ashore to a safe area. What is the next course of action?
a. Send someone to retrieve an automated external defibrillator.
b. Check for pulse and breathing.
c. Perform high-quality CPR.
d. Check for responsiveness.
Answer
d. Check for responsiveness.
Rationale
C. Rationale: The next step is to find an AED while the other rescuers check for responsiveness. If the patient is unresponsive, the rescuers should check for breathing and pulse. If a pulse is absent, they should immediately initiate high-quality CPR.
Question
A 56-year-old man was seen clutching his chest before falling to the ground in a restaurant. His companions call for emergency medical services. What should be their next step?
a. Wait for EMS to arrive
b. Immediately give rescue breaths
c. Find an AED or instruct someone to do so
d. Perform high-quality chest compressions
Answer
c. Find an AED or instruct someone to do so
Rationale
B. Rationale: Chest compression depth of 2 to 2.4 inches is recommended for high-quality CPR.
Question
A rescuer is providing chest compressions with a depth of 1 inch at a rate of 110/minute, allowing for full chest recoil. What can the patient do to improve the quality of chest compressions?
a. Increase compression rate to 120/minute
b. Increase compression depth to 2 inches
c. Lean on the patient’s chest during the upstroke to increase intrathoracic pressure
d. The rescuer is providing high-quality chest compressions
Answer
b. Increase compression depth to 2 inches
Rationale
D. Rationale: In a two-person rescuer team, CPR must immediately be performed with 15 chest compressions to 2 breaths. The compression to ventilation ratio may vary for infants and children based on the patient’s estimated age.
Question
A two-rescuer BLS trained team attends to a pediatric patient who is not breathing and has no pulse after being electrocuted from a wall socket. How will you proceed with cardiopulmonary resuscitation in this case?
a. Give 1 rescue breath every 5 seconds at a rate of 12 breaths per minute
b. Perform asynchronous CPR with continuous chest compressions and breathing every 5 seconds
c. Perform CPR with 30 chest compressions and 2 breaths
d. Perform CPR with 15 chest compressions to 2 breaths
Answer
d. Perform CPR with 15 chest compressions to 2 breaths
Rationale
A. Rationale: To minimize interruptions in chest compressions, The American Heart Association Basic Life Support guidelines recommend to stop or delay chest compressions only during the following instances: when an AED is available, when EMS arrives at the scene to assume control of the situation, when the rescuer is in danger, or when the patient wakes up. Check the pulse and breathing after 2 minutes of CPR performed after a shock is delivered by the AED. In a witnessed cardiac arrest, perform 5 cycles (2 minutes) of high-quality CPR first before stopping to retrieve the AED.
Question
According to the American Heart Association BLS guidelines, while providing BLS, during what particular circumstances can you briefly stop or delay chest compressions?
a. When an AED is available to be applied to the patient
b. To check pulse and breathing right after a shock is administered from the AED
c. To retrieve an AED during a witnessed cardiac arrest
d. All of the above findings are circumstances to delay or interrupt chest compressions
Answer
a. When an AED is available to be applied to the patient
Rationale
D. Rationale: In the out-of-hospital setting, conventional CPR will always be preferred over compression-only CPR. Conventional CPR is usually done by trained rescuers, while compression-only CPR has the advantage of being easier for untrained bystanders. For option A, conventional CPR would be a preferred method of CPR in both in-hospital cardiac arrest and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. For options B and C, conventional CPR has the advantage of having a higher mean patient survival rate compared to compression-only CPR.
Question
Conventional CPR is preferred over compression-only CPR. What statement is true of conventional CPR versus compression-only CPR?
a. Conventional CPR is preferred during in-hospital cardiac arrest as medically trained health care providers perform it, whereas this is not true for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
b. Conventional CPR has a lower mean patient survival rate than compression-only CPR.
c. Compression-only CPR has a patient survival rate similar to conventional CPR.
d. In an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, trained rescuers can perform conventional CPR while an untrained bystander may do compression-only CPR.
Answer
d. In an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, trained rescuers can perform conventional CPR while an untrained bystander may do compression-only CPR.
Rationale
B. Rationale: Allowing full chest recoil optimizes the preload during diastole, which allows more blood to enter the coronary arteries to nourish the myocardium with oxygen. Rescuers should avoid leaning over the patient’s chest and allow for full chest recoil. Leaning on the chest can cause increased intrathoracic pressure and reduced blood flow.
Question
High-quality CPR includes:
a. Leaning on the patient’s chest to ensure adequate chest compression pressure
b. Allowing full recoil for optimal preload volume
c. Compressing the chest at a rate of 130–140 per minute to ensure adequate coronary flow
d. Defibrillation when the patient has been in cardiac arrest for 15 minutes
Answer
b. Allowing full recoil for optimal preload volume
Rationale
D. Rationale: A rescuer can stop performing BLS measures when paramedics arrive and assume care. They are trained in providing advanced cardiac life support and are more efficient when they function as a team. If the patient wakes up or develops a pulse and spontaneous breathing, then there is no reason to continue CPR.
Question
In which instance should a rescuer stop performing high-quality CPR?
a. When paramedics arrive
b. When the patient wakes up
c. When there is spontaneous breathing and a pulse
d. All of the above meet the criteria for when to stop providing chest compressions.
Answer
d. All of the above meet the criteria for when to stop providing chest compressions.
Rationale
B. Rationale: The cornerstone of BLS for children is the ability to recognize when a child is in respiratory distress that may compromise airway, breathing, and circulation.
Question
Of the following, what is the most critical aspect of Pediatric Basic Life Support (BLS)?
a. Knowledge of intubation and care while in the intensive care unit
b. Early recognition and treatment of respiratory distress and failure
c. An organ-based assessment of injury with an in-depth understanding of physical assessment
d. Dosing of pediatric medications
Answer
b. Early recognition and treatment of respiratory distress and failure
Rationale
A. Rationale: Perform chest compressions on the lower half of the sternum. Rescuers may either use the heel of one hand or the two-hands technique in children, which provides optimal cardiac output and avoids injury.
Question
Provide chest compressions in children on the:
a. Lower-half of the sternum
b. Angle of Lewy
c. Manubrium
d. Xiphoid process
Answer
a. Lower-half of the sternum