BLS Algorithm Flashcard 1
Rationale
C. Rationale: For patients with a pulse who are not spontaneously breathing, basic ventilations with a bag-mask device at one ventilation cycle every 5 to 6 seconds is recommended.
Question
A 35-year-old patient who slipped and fell from a 10-foot high roof is brought to the emergency department with a strong pulse but is not breathing. The treatment of choice is to:
a. Intubate the patient and connect him to a mechanical ventilator.
b. Attach a biphasic defibrillator and treat him with shocks as indicated.
c. Administer bag-mask ventilations; one ventilation cycle every 5 to 6 seconds.
d. Perform high-quality CPR.
Answer
c. Administer bag-mask ventilations; one ventilation cycle every 5 to 6 seconds.
Rationale
D. Rationale: Ensuring that the scene is safe is always the first step in the Basic Life Support sequence, no matter what type of rescuer is at the scene.
Question
What is always the first step in the Basic Life Support sequence, regardless of the rescuer type?
a. check for a patient response
b. call for help
c. use of AED/defibrillator when available
d. ensure scene safety
Answer
d. ensure scene safety
Rationale
A. Rationale: The first action for a patient in respiratory arrest with a pulse is to activate EMS.
Question
A 25-year-old man is found down unresponsive and in respiratory arrest. He has a heart rate of 50 beats per minute. The first thing you should do is:
a. Activate the emergency response system.
b. Provide rescue breathing ventilations of 3 breaths every minute.
c. Begin CPR immediately.
d. Find the closest AED.
Answer
a. Activate the emergency response system.
Rationale
D. Rationale: CPR must be started once it is established that the patient has no pulse and no spontaneous breathing.
Question
A 65-year-old man mentions that he has chest pain and soon becomes unresponsive. EMS is called and is in transit. No pulse or spontaneous breathing is detected. What is the next correct step?
a. give rescue breaths
b. clear the path for arrival of EMS personnel
c. keep checking for return of spontaneous circulation every 2 minutes
d. begin CPR
Answer
d. begin CPR
Rationale
D. Rationale: The patient is drowsy but awake and in respiratory distress. Emergency services must be called, but no immediate intervention is necessary. Responder should monitor the patient until EMS arrival.
Question
A middle-aged man is seen sitting on the sidewalk. He is drowsy and disoriented and seems to be in respiratory distress. What is the best next step?
a. shake him vigorously and shout verbal commands at him
b. try to start an IV
c. start giving rescue breaths
d. call for emergency services and monitor the situation
Answer
d. call for emergency services and monitor the situation
Rationale
B. Rationale: Healthcare providers start by making sure that the scene is safe then assess the patient’s level of consciousness. If the patient is unconscious, the provider initiates the BLS assessment followed by the primary assessment and then the secondary assessment.
Question
After ensuring scene safety, you come to the aid of an adult pedestrian who was hit by a car. You try to wake him up by tapping on his shoulders and shouting, “Hey, are you okay?” There is no response. According to the systematic approach, what is the next step?
a. Primary assessment
b. BLS assessment
c. Secondary assessment
d. Tertiary assessment
Answer
b. BLS assessment
Rationale
B. Rationale: The pulse is rechecked every 2 minutes, taking at least 5 seconds but no longer than 10 seconds for the pulse check.
Question
Avoiding interruptions in chest compressions is one of the key aspects of delivering high-quality CPR. When re-checking for a pulse, the BLS provider must not take longer than how many seconds?
a. 6 seconds
b. 10 seconds
c. 20 seconds
d. 30 seconds
Answer
b. 10 seconds
Rationale
D. Rationale: The very first step in the basic life support algorithm is to ensure scene safety before continuing with the rescue. The algorithm aims to protect the rescuer first before the patient. This also minimizes the risk of the rescuer of becoming a patient as well.
Question
What is the very first step in the basic life support sequence?
a. Follow the dispatcher’s instructions.
b. Shout for help and call 9-1-1.
c. Check for a response.
d. Ensure scene safety.
Answer
d. Ensure scene safety.
Rationale
C. Rationale: The untrained bystander should provide compression-only (hands-only) CPR to adult patients in cardiac arrest. They may be guided by the dispatcher or not at all. They should continue CPR until an AED or a trained rescuer arrives.
Question
What should an untrained bystander do in an adult cardiac arrest situation?
a. only contact EMS
b. crowd control
c. hands-only CPR
d. rescue breathing only
Answer
c. hands-only CPR
Rationale
B. Rationale: The trained healthcare provider should limit pulse checks to within 10 seconds and ideally should assess it together with the breathing status of the patient. If the rescuer cannot feel a pulse by then, it must be assumed that the patient is in cardiac arrest and the provider begins chest compressions immediately.
Question
When does a trained healthcare provider check the breathing status of the patient during BLS?
a. before checking for a pulse
b. at the same time as the pulse check
c. after checking for a pulse as that is the priority
d. there is no need to check for the breathing status of the patient as rescue breaths are always part of CPR
Answer
b. at the same time as the pulse check