PALS HEARTCODE EXAM SCRIPT 2026 FULL
SOLUTION QUESTION BANK
◉ What should you do to help reduce the risk of hypoxemia during
suctioning? Answer: Limit suction attempts to 10 seconds or less
◉ Under what circumstance should you use an oropharyngeal
airway? Answer: The child must be unconscious
◉ What can happen if the oropharyngeal airway is too large?
Answer: It can block the airway
◉ When measuring for an oropharyngeal airway, it should extend
from the corner of the mouth to the angle of the [blank]. Answer:
Jaw
◉ The inspired oxygen concentration of a low-flow oxygen delivery
system is between [blank] % to [blank] %. Answer: 22
60
◉ The appropriate flow rate for a simple mask is [blank] to [blank]
L/min. Answer: 6
10
,◉ For a nonrebreathing mask to be effective, the oxygen flow rate
must be at least [blank] L/min. Answer: 10
◉ High-flow oxygen systems reliably deliver an oxygen
concentration of greater than [blank] %. Answer: 60
◉ The gas flow rate for a nebulizer treatment is [blank] to [blank]
L/min. Answer: 5
6
◉ What is an indication that a nebulizer treatment is complete?
Answer: No mist is visible
◉ When using a metered-dose inhaler [or MDI] w/ a spacer device,
what should you do? Answer: Shake the MDI & spacer vigorously
◉ When may pulse oximetry be inaccurate? Answer: The displayed
heart rate does not correlate with the child's heart rate
◉ When monitoring pulse oximetry in a child, what finding would
prompt immediate evaluation of the child? Answer: There is a
decrease in oxygen saturation
,◉ Which are appropriate interventions for an apneic child? Answer:
Provide a breath every 2 to 3 seconds
Watch for chest rise
◉ Which of the following should be included in rescue breathing for
an infant? Answer: Use oxygen as soon as it is available
◉ When should the use of an endotracheal tube be considered in a
child? Answer: Child cannot maintain oxygenation despite initial
intervention
◉ What is the first step for an intubated child whose condition
deteriorates? Answer: Support oxygenation & ventilation
◉ What are the common causes of upper airway obstruction?
Answer: Airway swelling
Tonsillar hypertrophy
Thick secretions
◉ Which anatomical feature may contribute to upper airway
obstruction in infants? Answer: Large tongue
Large occiput
◉ What are the signs of upper airway obstruction? Answer: Stridor
, Use of accessory muscles
◉ Which diagnoses may present w/ upper airway obstruction?
Answer: Croup
Epiglottitis
Foreign body obstruction
◉ What should you do before suctioning a child who has upper
airway obstruction? Answer: Determine the underlying cause of the
obstruction
◉ In a less severe case of upper airway obstruction in a child, what
intervention can relieve obstruction caused by the tongue? Answer:
Insert an oral airway
◉ A child presents with a barking cough, good air entry during
auscultation, a pulse oximetry reading of 93% on room air, &
retractions at rest.
What is the severity of the child's presentation? Answer: Moderate
croup
◉ A child presents with a barking cough, good air entry during
auscultation, a pulse oximetry reading of 93% on room air, &
retractions at rest.
SOLUTION QUESTION BANK
◉ What should you do to help reduce the risk of hypoxemia during
suctioning? Answer: Limit suction attempts to 10 seconds or less
◉ Under what circumstance should you use an oropharyngeal
airway? Answer: The child must be unconscious
◉ What can happen if the oropharyngeal airway is too large?
Answer: It can block the airway
◉ When measuring for an oropharyngeal airway, it should extend
from the corner of the mouth to the angle of the [blank]. Answer:
Jaw
◉ The inspired oxygen concentration of a low-flow oxygen delivery
system is between [blank] % to [blank] %. Answer: 22
60
◉ The appropriate flow rate for a simple mask is [blank] to [blank]
L/min. Answer: 6
10
,◉ For a nonrebreathing mask to be effective, the oxygen flow rate
must be at least [blank] L/min. Answer: 10
◉ High-flow oxygen systems reliably deliver an oxygen
concentration of greater than [blank] %. Answer: 60
◉ The gas flow rate for a nebulizer treatment is [blank] to [blank]
L/min. Answer: 5
6
◉ What is an indication that a nebulizer treatment is complete?
Answer: No mist is visible
◉ When using a metered-dose inhaler [or MDI] w/ a spacer device,
what should you do? Answer: Shake the MDI & spacer vigorously
◉ When may pulse oximetry be inaccurate? Answer: The displayed
heart rate does not correlate with the child's heart rate
◉ When monitoring pulse oximetry in a child, what finding would
prompt immediate evaluation of the child? Answer: There is a
decrease in oxygen saturation
,◉ Which are appropriate interventions for an apneic child? Answer:
Provide a breath every 2 to 3 seconds
Watch for chest rise
◉ Which of the following should be included in rescue breathing for
an infant? Answer: Use oxygen as soon as it is available
◉ When should the use of an endotracheal tube be considered in a
child? Answer: Child cannot maintain oxygenation despite initial
intervention
◉ What is the first step for an intubated child whose condition
deteriorates? Answer: Support oxygenation & ventilation
◉ What are the common causes of upper airway obstruction?
Answer: Airway swelling
Tonsillar hypertrophy
Thick secretions
◉ Which anatomical feature may contribute to upper airway
obstruction in infants? Answer: Large tongue
Large occiput
◉ What are the signs of upper airway obstruction? Answer: Stridor
, Use of accessory muscles
◉ Which diagnoses may present w/ upper airway obstruction?
Answer: Croup
Epiglottitis
Foreign body obstruction
◉ What should you do before suctioning a child who has upper
airway obstruction? Answer: Determine the underlying cause of the
obstruction
◉ In a less severe case of upper airway obstruction in a child, what
intervention can relieve obstruction caused by the tongue? Answer:
Insert an oral airway
◉ A child presents with a barking cough, good air entry during
auscultation, a pulse oximetry reading of 93% on room air, &
retractions at rest.
What is the severity of the child's presentation? Answer: Moderate
croup
◉ A child presents with a barking cough, good air entry during
auscultation, a pulse oximetry reading of 93% on room air, &
retractions at rest.
