AMERICAN RED CROSS FIRST AID, CPR, AND AED EXAM
2026/2027: 200 COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED RATIONALES AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Q1: What is the very first action you should take when you encounter
a potential emergency situation?
A) Check the victim for responsiveness.
B) Call 9-1-1 immediately.
C) Check the scene for safety.
D) Begin chest compressions.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ensuring the scene is safe is the first step in the emergency
action steps to prevent injury to yourself and others before approaching
the victim.
Q2: When obtaining consent to care for a responsive adult, what
should you do?
A) Tell them your name, state you are trained in first aid, and ask if you
can help.
B) Begin care immediately without asking.
C) Assume they want help because they are injured.
D) Wait for a family member to arrive.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Gaining consent is a legal and ethical requirement. Identify
yourself, state your level of training, and ask permission before
providing care.
,Q3: The mnemonic SAM is used during the interview process to gather
information. What does the 'A' in SAM stand for?
A) Airway
B) Allergies
C) Assessment
D) Ambulance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SAM stands for Signs and Symptoms, Allergies, and
Medications and medical conditions.
Q4: You are performing a focused check on a responsive adult who
fell. Where should you focus your physical examination?
A) On the entire body systematically.
B) Where the victim tells you they are hurt, or where you observed
injury.
C) Only on the head and neck.
D) On the extremities only.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A focused check should be based on the victim's chief
complaint, signs, and symptoms observed during the interview.
Q5: Which of the following are primary indicators of cardiac arrest in
an adult? (Select all that apply)
A) Unresponsiveness
B) Normal breathing
C) Gasping for air
D) Complaining of chest pain
Correct Answer: A, C
Rationale: The two primary signs of cardiac arrest are unresponsiveness
and absent or abnormal breathing (like gasping/agonal breaths).
,Q6: After determining an adult is unresponsive and not breathing
normally, what is the correct order of actions?
A) Give 2 breaths, then start compressions.
B) Call 9-1-1, get an AED, begin CPR, use the AED.
C) Start CPR immediately, then call 9-1-1 after 5 minutes.
D) Check for a pulse for 30 seconds.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Red Cross sequence for suspected cardiac arrest is to call
9-1-1 (or send someone), retrieve the AED and first aid kit, begin CPR,
and use the AED as soon as it arrives.
Q7: What is the correct rate for adult chest compressions?
A) 60 to 80 per minute
B) 80 to 100 per minute
C) 100 to 120 per minute
D) 120 to 140 per minute
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: High-quality CPR requires a compression rate of at least 100
to 120 compressions per minute for adults.
Q8: When performing chest compressions on an adult, what is the
correct depth?
A) At least 1 inch
B) At least 1.5 inches
C) At least 2 inches
D) At least 3 inches
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Adult chest compressions must be at least 2 inches deep to
effectively pump blood.
, Q9: What is the correct hand placement for adult chest compressions?
A) Heel of one hand on the upper chest, other hand on top.
B) Heel of one hand in the center of the chest, other hand on top with
fingers interlaced and off the chest.
C) Both hands on the lower left side of the chest.
D) One hand flat on the sternum, the other holding the head.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Proper hand placement is the heel of one hand in the center
of the chest (lower half of the sternum), with the other hand on top,
fingers interlaced and lifted to avoid pressing on the ribs.
Q10: What is the purpose of allowing complete chest recoil between
compressions?
A) To allow the heart to refill with blood.
B) To rest the rescuer's arms.
C) To prepare for rescue breaths.
D) To check for a pulse.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Allowing the chest to fully recoil allows the heart to refill with
blood, which is essential for effective circulation.
Q11: When giving rescue breaths to an adult, which technique should
be used to open the airway?
A) Jaw-thrust maneuver
B) Head-tilt/chin-lift technique
C) Neck-tilt/forehead-lift technique
D) Chin-tilt/head-push technique
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The head-tilt/chin-lift technique is the standard method to
open the airway for an adult needing rescue breaths.
2026/2027: 200 COMPREHENSIVE EXAM QUESTIONS WITH
DETAILED RATIONALES AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Q1: What is the very first action you should take when you encounter
a potential emergency situation?
A) Check the victim for responsiveness.
B) Call 9-1-1 immediately.
C) Check the scene for safety.
D) Begin chest compressions.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Ensuring the scene is safe is the first step in the emergency
action steps to prevent injury to yourself and others before approaching
the victim.
Q2: When obtaining consent to care for a responsive adult, what
should you do?
A) Tell them your name, state you are trained in first aid, and ask if you
can help.
B) Begin care immediately without asking.
C) Assume they want help because they are injured.
D) Wait for a family member to arrive.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Gaining consent is a legal and ethical requirement. Identify
yourself, state your level of training, and ask permission before
providing care.
,Q3: The mnemonic SAM is used during the interview process to gather
information. What does the 'A' in SAM stand for?
A) Airway
B) Allergies
C) Assessment
D) Ambulance
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: SAM stands for Signs and Symptoms, Allergies, and
Medications and medical conditions.
Q4: You are performing a focused check on a responsive adult who
fell. Where should you focus your physical examination?
A) On the entire body systematically.
B) Where the victim tells you they are hurt, or where you observed
injury.
C) Only on the head and neck.
D) On the extremities only.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: A focused check should be based on the victim's chief
complaint, signs, and symptoms observed during the interview.
Q5: Which of the following are primary indicators of cardiac arrest in
an adult? (Select all that apply)
A) Unresponsiveness
B) Normal breathing
C) Gasping for air
D) Complaining of chest pain
Correct Answer: A, C
Rationale: The two primary signs of cardiac arrest are unresponsiveness
and absent or abnormal breathing (like gasping/agonal breaths).
,Q6: After determining an adult is unresponsive and not breathing
normally, what is the correct order of actions?
A) Give 2 breaths, then start compressions.
B) Call 9-1-1, get an AED, begin CPR, use the AED.
C) Start CPR immediately, then call 9-1-1 after 5 minutes.
D) Check for a pulse for 30 seconds.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The Red Cross sequence for suspected cardiac arrest is to call
9-1-1 (or send someone), retrieve the AED and first aid kit, begin CPR,
and use the AED as soon as it arrives.
Q7: What is the correct rate for adult chest compressions?
A) 60 to 80 per minute
B) 80 to 100 per minute
C) 100 to 120 per minute
D) 120 to 140 per minute
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: High-quality CPR requires a compression rate of at least 100
to 120 compressions per minute for adults.
Q8: When performing chest compressions on an adult, what is the
correct depth?
A) At least 1 inch
B) At least 1.5 inches
C) At least 2 inches
D) At least 3 inches
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Adult chest compressions must be at least 2 inches deep to
effectively pump blood.
, Q9: What is the correct hand placement for adult chest compressions?
A) Heel of one hand on the upper chest, other hand on top.
B) Heel of one hand in the center of the chest, other hand on top with
fingers interlaced and off the chest.
C) Both hands on the lower left side of the chest.
D) One hand flat on the sternum, the other holding the head.
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Proper hand placement is the heel of one hand in the center
of the chest (lower half of the sternum), with the other hand on top,
fingers interlaced and lifted to avoid pressing on the ribs.
Q10: What is the purpose of allowing complete chest recoil between
compressions?
A) To allow the heart to refill with blood.
B) To rest the rescuer's arms.
C) To prepare for rescue breaths.
D) To check for a pulse.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Allowing the chest to fully recoil allows the heart to refill with
blood, which is essential for effective circulation.
Q11: When giving rescue breaths to an adult, which technique should
be used to open the airway?
A) Jaw-thrust maneuver
B) Head-tilt/chin-lift technique
C) Neck-tilt/forehead-lift technique
D) Chin-tilt/head-push technique
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: The head-tilt/chin-lift technique is the standard method to
open the airway for an adult needing rescue breaths.
