Life Support Exam
questions answered
correctly
During bag-mask ventilation, how should you hold the mask to make an effective seal between the
child's face and the mask? - ANSWERS>>>>>*Position your fingers using the E-C clamp technique*
Age of infants - ANSWERS>>>>><1 yo (excluding the newly born)
Age of children - ANSWERS>>>>>from 1 year of age to puberty
To perform a pulse check in an infant, palpate a - ANSWERS>>>>>brachial pulse
- if you don't definitely feel a pulse within 10 seconds, starts CPR, beginning with chest compressions
To perform a pulse check in a child, palpate a - ANSWERS>>>>>carotid or femoral pulse
- if you don't definitely feel a pulse within 10 seconds, starts CPR, beginning with chest compressions
Compression depth in infants - ANSWERS>>>>>at least 1/3 the AP diameter of the chest or about 1 1/2
inches (4 cm)
If a head or neck injury is suspected, use what to open the airway? - ANSWERS>>>>>jaw-thrust
maneuver
- if jaw thrust does not open the airway, use the head tilt-chin lift
,The primary assessment (primary survey) uses a hands-on ABCDE approach and includes assessment of
the patient's vital signs .. what does ABCDE stand for? - ANSWERS>>>>>Airway
Breathing
Circulation
Disability
Exposure
During PALS, determine the respiratory rate by ... - ANSWERS>>>>>counting the number of times the
chest rises in 30 seconds and multiply by 2
Rectractions accompanied by stridor or inspiratory snoring suggest - ANSWERS>>>>>upper airway
obstruction
- seesaw respirations also usually indicated upper airway obstruction + may also be observed in severe
lower airway obstruction
Rectractions accompanied by expiratory wheezing suggest - ANSWERS>>>>>marked lower airway
obstruction (asthma or bronchiolitis), causing obstruction during both inspiration and expiration
Cause of seesaw breathing in most kids with neuromuscular dz is - ANSWERS>>>>>weakness of
abdominal and chest wall muscles
- caused by strong contraction of diaphragm that dominates weaker abdominal and chest wall muscles
- result = retraction of chest and expansion of abdomen during inspiration
Normal tidal volume - ANSWERS>>>>>appx 5-7 mL/kg of body weight throughout life
- difficult to measure unless child is mechanically ventilated --> clinical assessment is important
Auscultation of air movement is critical. In a child, listen for the intensity of breath sounds and quality of
air movement in the following areas: - ANSWERS>>>>>Anterior:
mid-chest (just to the left and right of sternum)
Lateral:
, under the armpits (best location for evaluating air movement into lower parts of lungs)
Posterior:
both sides of back
Most common cause of bradycardia in children - ANSWERS>>>>>hypoxia
- if child with bradycardia has signs of poor perfusion (decreased responsiveness, weak peripheral
pulses, cool mottled skin), immediately support ventilation with bag and mask and administer
supplementary O2
- be prepared to start chest compressions if heart rate remains less than 60/min with signs of poor
perfusion despite adequate oxygenation and ventilation
Heart rate that warrants further assessment and may be a serious condition in kids - ANSWERS>>>>>HR
> 180/min in infant or toddler and >160/min in child older than 2 yo
Normal capillary refill time - ANSWERS>>>>>2 seconds or less
Children with septic shock may have warm skin and extremities with very rapid (less than 2 seconds)
capillary refill time, often called - ANSWERS>>>>>flash capillary refill
When perfusion deteriorates in children and O2 delivery to tissues becomes inadequate, what are
typically affected first? - ANSWERS>>>>>hands and feet
- they may become coo, pale, dusky, or mottled
You respond to a child or an infant that is found down. What is the next action after determining
unresponsiveness? - ANSWERS>>>>>*Tell a bystander to call 911.*
- Early activation is key.
- Send any available bystander to call 911. Many pediatric cardiac arrest situations are the result of a
respiratory problem, and immediate intervention can be life-saving.