,1. A 60-year-old man is found unresponsive, pulseless, and apneic in a public
setting. You quickly assess the patient and confirm that he has no signs of normal
breathing or circulation. An AED is not immediately available, but other rescuers
are responding to obtain one. You should:
A. start CPR and transport immediately.
B. begin CPR until an AED is available.
C. withhold CPR until he is defibrillated.
D. determine if he has a valid living will.
Correct answer: B. begin CPR until an AED is available.
Rationale: Immediate CPR is indicated for an unresponsive patient who is
pulseless and not breathing normally. High-quality chest compressions maintain
some blood flow to the brain and heart while an AED is obtained. Defibrillation
should be performed as soon as an AED becomes available, but CPR should not be
delayed while waiting for it.
2. Basic life support (BLS) is defined as a set of immediate interventions used to
maintain life in a patient experiencing a life-threatening emergency. These
interventions are primarily focused on maintaining oxygenation and circulation
without the use of invasive advanced procedures. BLS is most accurately defined
as:
A. basic lifesaving treatment that is performed by bystanders while EMS providers are
en route to the scene of an emergency.
B. noninvasive emergency care that is used to treat conditions such as airway
obstruction, respiratory arrest, and cardiac arrest.
C. invasive emergency medical interventions such as intravenous therapy, manual
defibrillation, and advanced airway management.
D. any form of emergency medical treatment that is performed by advanced EMTs,
paramedics, physicians, and emergency nurses.
Correct answer: B. noninvasive emergency care that is used to treat conditions
such as airway obstruction, respiratory arrest, and cardiac arrest.
,Rationale: BLS consists primarily of noninvasive interventions designed to support
airway, breathing, and circulation during life-threatening emergencies. Examples
include airway management, rescue breathing, chest compressions, and AED use.
Intravenous therapy, advanced airway procedures, and other invasive interventions
are considered advanced life support rather than basic life support.
3. During CPR on an adult patient, the rescuer is performing repeated chest
compressions at the recommended rate and depth. After each downward
compression, the rescuer must allow the chest to return to its normal position
before performing the next compression. Between each chest compression, you
should:
A. check for a pulse.
B. allow full chest recoil.
C. administer a breath.
D. remove your hands from the chest.
Correct answer: B. allow full chest recoil.
Rationale: Full chest recoil allows the heart to refill with blood between
compressions. Incomplete recoil reduces venous return and can decrease the
effectiveness of CPR. The rescuer should maintain proper hand position while
allowing the chest to completely return to its normal position.
4. A rescuer is performing high-quality CPR on an adult patient who is in cardiac
arrest. After several cycles of compressions, the rescuer is concerned about
possible complications associated with chest compressions and ventilation.
Complications associated with chest compressions include all of the following,
EXCEPT:
A. a fractured sternum.
B. gastric distention.
C. rib fractures.
D. liver laceration.
, Correct answer: B. gastric distention.
Rationale: Rib and sternal fractures can occur as complications of appropriately
performed chest compressions because significant force is required to compress the
adult chest adequately. Internal injuries, including liver injury, may also occur when
compressions are performed improperly or with excessive force. Gastric distention is
more commonly associated with excessive ventilation or improper ventilation
technique rather than chest compressions themselves.
5. CPR is in progress on a pregnant woman who is in cardiac arrest. Because the
enlarged uterus can compress major blood vessels when the patient is supine, a
rescuer manually displaces the uterus toward the patient's left side. Shortly
afterward, the patient achieves return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Which of
the following would MOST likely explain this?
A. Displacement of her uterus caused blood to flow backward, which increased blood
flow to her heart.
B. Increased blood flow to her heart caused her ventricles to stop fibrillating, which
restored her pulse.
C. Displacement of her uterus allowed her lungs to expand more fully, which restored
her pulse.
D. Pressure was relieved from her aorta and vena cava, which improved chest
compression effectiveness.
Correct answer: D. Pressure was relieved from her aorta and vena cava, which
improved chest compression effectiveness.
Rationale: In advanced pregnancy, the enlarged uterus can compress the inferior
vena cava and aorta when the patient is lying supine. This compression can decrease
venous return to the heart and reduce the effectiveness of chest compressions.
Manually displacing the uterus to the left relieves pressure on these major vessels
and can improve circulation during CPR.
setting. You quickly assess the patient and confirm that he has no signs of normal
breathing or circulation. An AED is not immediately available, but other rescuers
are responding to obtain one. You should:
A. start CPR and transport immediately.
B. begin CPR until an AED is available.
C. withhold CPR until he is defibrillated.
D. determine if he has a valid living will.
Correct answer: B. begin CPR until an AED is available.
Rationale: Immediate CPR is indicated for an unresponsive patient who is
pulseless and not breathing normally. High-quality chest compressions maintain
some blood flow to the brain and heart while an AED is obtained. Defibrillation
should be performed as soon as an AED becomes available, but CPR should not be
delayed while waiting for it.
2. Basic life support (BLS) is defined as a set of immediate interventions used to
maintain life in a patient experiencing a life-threatening emergency. These
interventions are primarily focused on maintaining oxygenation and circulation
without the use of invasive advanced procedures. BLS is most accurately defined
as:
A. basic lifesaving treatment that is performed by bystanders while EMS providers are
en route to the scene of an emergency.
B. noninvasive emergency care that is used to treat conditions such as airway
obstruction, respiratory arrest, and cardiac arrest.
C. invasive emergency medical interventions such as intravenous therapy, manual
defibrillation, and advanced airway management.
D. any form of emergency medical treatment that is performed by advanced EMTs,
paramedics, physicians, and emergency nurses.
Correct answer: B. noninvasive emergency care that is used to treat conditions
such as airway obstruction, respiratory arrest, and cardiac arrest.
,Rationale: BLS consists primarily of noninvasive interventions designed to support
airway, breathing, and circulation during life-threatening emergencies. Examples
include airway management, rescue breathing, chest compressions, and AED use.
Intravenous therapy, advanced airway procedures, and other invasive interventions
are considered advanced life support rather than basic life support.
3. During CPR on an adult patient, the rescuer is performing repeated chest
compressions at the recommended rate and depth. After each downward
compression, the rescuer must allow the chest to return to its normal position
before performing the next compression. Between each chest compression, you
should:
A. check for a pulse.
B. allow full chest recoil.
C. administer a breath.
D. remove your hands from the chest.
Correct answer: B. allow full chest recoil.
Rationale: Full chest recoil allows the heart to refill with blood between
compressions. Incomplete recoil reduces venous return and can decrease the
effectiveness of CPR. The rescuer should maintain proper hand position while
allowing the chest to completely return to its normal position.
4. A rescuer is performing high-quality CPR on an adult patient who is in cardiac
arrest. After several cycles of compressions, the rescuer is concerned about
possible complications associated with chest compressions and ventilation.
Complications associated with chest compressions include all of the following,
EXCEPT:
A. a fractured sternum.
B. gastric distention.
C. rib fractures.
D. liver laceration.
, Correct answer: B. gastric distention.
Rationale: Rib and sternal fractures can occur as complications of appropriately
performed chest compressions because significant force is required to compress the
adult chest adequately. Internal injuries, including liver injury, may also occur when
compressions are performed improperly or with excessive force. Gastric distention is
more commonly associated with excessive ventilation or improper ventilation
technique rather than chest compressions themselves.
5. CPR is in progress on a pregnant woman who is in cardiac arrest. Because the
enlarged uterus can compress major blood vessels when the patient is supine, a
rescuer manually displaces the uterus toward the patient's left side. Shortly
afterward, the patient achieves return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Which of
the following would MOST likely explain this?
A. Displacement of her uterus caused blood to flow backward, which increased blood
flow to her heart.
B. Increased blood flow to her heart caused her ventricles to stop fibrillating, which
restored her pulse.
C. Displacement of her uterus allowed her lungs to expand more fully, which restored
her pulse.
D. Pressure was relieved from her aorta and vena cava, which improved chest
compression effectiveness.
Correct answer: D. Pressure was relieved from her aorta and vena cava, which
improved chest compression effectiveness.
Rationale: In advanced pregnancy, the enlarged uterus can compress the inferior
vena cava and aorta when the patient is lying supine. This compression can decrease
venous return to the heart and reduce the effectiveness of chest compressions.
Manually displacing the uterus to the left relieves pressure on these major vessels
and can improve circulation during CPR.
