BLS Algorithm Flashcard 4
Rationale
C. Rationale: When you have no one to help you call 9-1-1, perform 2 minutes of CPR first before dialing 9-1-1. The chances of achieving ROSC are higher if immediate CPR is given to an infant that had a witnessed cardiac arrest. When the patient does not respond after the initial 2 minutes of CPR, seek help and call EMS. Immediately resume CPR after that.
Question
You are alone and have witnessed the sudden cardiac arrest of an infant patient you are babysitting. What is the best course of action at this point?
a. Call 9-1-1.
b. Perform rescue breathing.
c. Immediately perform 5 cycles of CPR.
d. Get a defibrillator.
Answer
c. Immediately perform 5 cycles of CPR.
Rationale
C. Rationale: The lay rescuer must first ensure that the scene is safe so as to not add another patient, especially in a situation where there is a danger for both the rescuer and the patient. Next, the rescuer determines unresponsiveness by tapping the infant’s foot or the child’s shoulder and shouting, “Are you okay?” If unresponsive, someone is asked to call 9-1-1 or EMS while the lay rescuer checks breathing (labored or absent) and signs of life before initiating CPR.
Question
You are babysitting an 8-month-old boy with a ventricular septal defect. You notice he suddenly slumps in his crib and becomes unconscious. You suspect cardiac arrest. Assuming you are a trained lay rescuer, what is the correct sequence of events detailed in the CPR guidelines for infants and children?
a. Initiate CPR, assess for breathing and signs of life, determine unresponsiveness and call for help, verify scene safety
b. Assess for breathing and signs of life, determine unresponsiveness and call for help, verify scene safety, initiate CPR
c. Verify scene safety, determine unresponsiveness and call for help, assess for breathing and signs of life, initiate CPR
d. Determine unresponsiveness and call for help, verify scene safety, initiate CPR, assess for breathing and signs of life
Answer
c. Verify scene safety, determine unresponsiveness and call for help, assess for breathing and signs of life, initiate CPR
Rationale
C. Rationale: The CPR guidelines recommend performing the encircling thumbs or two-thumbs technique for a two lay rescuer approach. In this situation, perform high-quality CPR by using both thumbs to apply downward pressure to the center of the chest (over the sternum). The thumbs compress the chest at a depth of 1.5 inches on the downstroke with full chest recoil on the upstroke.
Question
You are providing CPR to a 5-month-old child. The best way to provide optimal compressions to this child is to:
a. Use your two thumbs to apply downward pressure to the center of the chest (over the sternum) and compress at a depth of 2 inches as fast as possible.
b. Use your index and middle fingers to apply downward pressure to the center of the chest (over the sternum) and compress at a depth of 2 inches on the downstroke with full chest recoil on the upstroke.
c. Use your two thumbs to apply downward pressure to the center of the chest (over the sternum) and compress at a depth of 1.5 inches on the downstroke with full chest recoil on the upstroke.
d. Use two hands, one over the other, to apply downward pressure to the center of the chest (over the sternum) and compress at a depth of 1.5 inches on the downstroke with full chest recoil on the upstroke.
Answer
c. Use your two thumbs to apply downward pressure to the center of the chest (over the sternum) and compress at a depth of 1.5 inches on the downstroke with full chest recoil on the upstroke.
Rationale
D. Rationale: The CPR guidelines recommend giving 2 breaths every 30 chest compressions in a single lay rescuer scenario.
Question
You are the only person providing CPR to an infant. How do you properly time ventilations with your chest compressions?
a. Give 2 breaths every 5 chest compressions
b. Give 2 breaths every 15 chest compressions
c. Give 2 breaths every 20 chest compressions
d. Give 2 breaths every 30 chest compressions
Answer
d. Give 2 breaths every 30 chest compressions
Rationale
C. Rationale: The patient is in respiratory arrest. The first aid provider must perform rescue breaths, preferably with bag-mask ventilation and oxygen supplementation.
Question
You attend to a patient who has a pulse but is not breathing. What is the best intervention in this case?
a. High-quality CPR
b. Endotracheal intubation
c. Bag-mask ventilation with oxygenation
d. An intramuscular injection of epinephrine
Answer
c. Bag-mask ventilation with oxygenation