PALS questions and answers 2025\2026 A+
Grade
How long should assessing for breathing and a pulse take?
A) no longer than 20 seconds
B) no longer than 10 seconds
C) no longer than 15 seconds
D) no longer than 5 seconds
- correct answer B) no longer than 10 seconds
What should you do to check for breathing?
A) look for chest rise and fall
B) place your hand on the chest
C) look at the nose to check for nasal flaring
D) listen for lung sounds
- correct answer A) look for chest rise and fall
Where do you check a pulse on an infant and child?
- correct answer Infant: brachial
Child: femoral or carotid
If the child does not have normal breathing and a pulse of 64 bpm is present, you will need to:
A) begin CPR
B) monitor
C) provide rescue breathing
- correct answer C) provide rescue breathing
,For an unwitnessed cardiac arrest, what should you do after determining unresponsiveness and there is
no breathing and no pulse?
A) shout for help
B) perform high quality CPR for 2 minutes
C) provide rescue breaths
D) activate the emergency response system
- correct answer B) perform high quality CPR for 2 minutes
The appropriate rate for compressions for children is 100-120/min. What is the correct depth for
children?
A) approximately 2 inches (one third the AP diameter)
B) approximately 3 inches (one half AP diameter)
C) approximately 4 inches (two thirds AP diameter)
- correct answer A) approximately 2 inches (one third the AP diameter)
What is the compression to ventilation ratio for 1- and 2-rescuer CPR for children and infants?
A) 15:2 for both
B) 30:2 for both
C) single rescuer 15:2, 2 rescuers 30:2
D) single rescuer 30:2, 2 rescuers 15:2
- correct answer D) single rescuer 30:2, 2 rescuers 15:2
How should 1-rescuer infant compressions be delivered?
A) with 2 fingers or 2 thumbs
B) with 1 finger or 2 thumbs
C) with 2 hands or 2 fingers
D) with 1 hand or 2 fingers
- correct answer A) with 2 fingers or 2 thumbs
What is the preferred technique for infant compressions when there are 2 or more rescuers present?
A) 1 finger technique
,B) 1 thumb encircling hands technique
C) 2 thumb encircling hands technique
D) 2 finger technique
- correct answer C) 2 thumb encircling hands technique
If the AED indicates no shock advised, what should be the next action?
A) start chest compressions
B) call for help
C) remove AED pads
D) give 2 rescue breaths
- correct answer A) start chest compressions
When is the Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT) performed to make an initial assessment?
A) during the "from the doorway" observation
B) during the primary assessment
C) during the transfer of care
D) during the secondary assessment
- correct answer A) during the "from the doorway" observation
The evaluate-identify-intervene sequence should be continued until:
A) the child is stable
B) the child is ready for transport
C) the child is ready for discharge
D) interventions are provided for the child
- correct answer A) the child is stable
In the primary assessment, how should you open the airway of a child who is not suspected of having a
c-spine injury?
A) with ET intubation
B) with a jaw thrust
, C) by flexing the neck
D) with a head tilt-chin lift
- correct answer D) with a head tilt-chin lift
Hypotension for children 1-10 years of age is a SBP of less than:
A) 50 + (2 x age in years)
B) 40 + (2 x age in years)
C) 70 + (2 x age in years)
D) 60 + (2 x age in years)
- correct answer C) 70 + (2 x age in years)
What does a prolonged capillary refill time indicate?
A) low cardiac rate
B) increased stroke volume
C) increased cardiac output
D) low cardiac output
- correct answer D) low cardiac output
What pulses should be assessed to monitor systemic perfusion in a child?
A) carotid and brachial
B) pedal and radial
C) peripheral and central
D) femoral and carotid
- correct answer C) peripheral and central
What do weak central pulses indicate a need for immediate intervention to prevent?
A) hypovolemia
B) sepsis
C) respiratory arrest
Grade
How long should assessing for breathing and a pulse take?
A) no longer than 20 seconds
B) no longer than 10 seconds
C) no longer than 15 seconds
D) no longer than 5 seconds
- correct answer B) no longer than 10 seconds
What should you do to check for breathing?
A) look for chest rise and fall
B) place your hand on the chest
C) look at the nose to check for nasal flaring
D) listen for lung sounds
- correct answer A) look for chest rise and fall
Where do you check a pulse on an infant and child?
- correct answer Infant: brachial
Child: femoral or carotid
If the child does not have normal breathing and a pulse of 64 bpm is present, you will need to:
A) begin CPR
B) monitor
C) provide rescue breathing
- correct answer C) provide rescue breathing
,For an unwitnessed cardiac arrest, what should you do after determining unresponsiveness and there is
no breathing and no pulse?
A) shout for help
B) perform high quality CPR for 2 minutes
C) provide rescue breaths
D) activate the emergency response system
- correct answer B) perform high quality CPR for 2 minutes
The appropriate rate for compressions for children is 100-120/min. What is the correct depth for
children?
A) approximately 2 inches (one third the AP diameter)
B) approximately 3 inches (one half AP diameter)
C) approximately 4 inches (two thirds AP diameter)
- correct answer A) approximately 2 inches (one third the AP diameter)
What is the compression to ventilation ratio for 1- and 2-rescuer CPR for children and infants?
A) 15:2 for both
B) 30:2 for both
C) single rescuer 15:2, 2 rescuers 30:2
D) single rescuer 30:2, 2 rescuers 15:2
- correct answer D) single rescuer 30:2, 2 rescuers 15:2
How should 1-rescuer infant compressions be delivered?
A) with 2 fingers or 2 thumbs
B) with 1 finger or 2 thumbs
C) with 2 hands or 2 fingers
D) with 1 hand or 2 fingers
- correct answer A) with 2 fingers or 2 thumbs
What is the preferred technique for infant compressions when there are 2 or more rescuers present?
A) 1 finger technique
,B) 1 thumb encircling hands technique
C) 2 thumb encircling hands technique
D) 2 finger technique
- correct answer C) 2 thumb encircling hands technique
If the AED indicates no shock advised, what should be the next action?
A) start chest compressions
B) call for help
C) remove AED pads
D) give 2 rescue breaths
- correct answer A) start chest compressions
When is the Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT) performed to make an initial assessment?
A) during the "from the doorway" observation
B) during the primary assessment
C) during the transfer of care
D) during the secondary assessment
- correct answer A) during the "from the doorway" observation
The evaluate-identify-intervene sequence should be continued until:
A) the child is stable
B) the child is ready for transport
C) the child is ready for discharge
D) interventions are provided for the child
- correct answer A) the child is stable
In the primary assessment, how should you open the airway of a child who is not suspected of having a
c-spine injury?
A) with ET intubation
B) with a jaw thrust
, C) by flexing the neck
D) with a head tilt-chin lift
- correct answer D) with a head tilt-chin lift
Hypotension for children 1-10 years of age is a SBP of less than:
A) 50 + (2 x age in years)
B) 40 + (2 x age in years)
C) 70 + (2 x age in years)
D) 60 + (2 x age in years)
- correct answer C) 70 + (2 x age in years)
What does a prolonged capillary refill time indicate?
A) low cardiac rate
B) increased stroke volume
C) increased cardiac output
D) low cardiac output
- correct answer D) low cardiac output
What pulses should be assessed to monitor systemic perfusion in a child?
A) carotid and brachial
B) pedal and radial
C) peripheral and central
D) femoral and carotid
- correct answer C) peripheral and central
What do weak central pulses indicate a need for immediate intervention to prevent?
A) hypovolemia
B) sepsis
C) respiratory arrest
