AHA PALS Exam Actual Exam 2026/2027: Complete Exam-Style
Questions with Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified | Pass
Guaranteed – A+ Graded
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 | Pediatric Basic Life Support & Recognition of Arrest | Q1 – Q10
Section 2 | Respiratory Emergencies & Airway Management | Q11 – Q20
Section 3 | Bradycardia & Tachycardia Algorithms | Q21 – Q30
Section 4 | Cardiac Arrest Management | Q31 – Q40
Section 5 | Post-Resuscitation Care & Team Dynamics | Q41 – Q50
Instructions: Choose the single best answer. Pass: 84% in 84 minutes.
══════════════════════════════════════
SECTION 1: PEDIATRIC BASIC LIFE SUPPORT & RECOGNITION OF ARREST Q1 – Q10
══════════════════════════════════════
Question 1 of 50
A 7-year-old child collapses during gym class. The child is unresponsive, not breathing,
and has no palpable pulse. A single rescuer begins chest compressions. How deep
should the compressions be for this child?
A. At least one-third the anteroposterior diameter of the chest, approximately 2 inches
✓ CORRECT
B. Exactly 2 inches regardless of the child's body size
C. At least one-fourth the anteroposterior diameter, approximately 1.5 inches
D. At least 2.4 inches to ensure adequate cardiac output
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: For a child in cardiac arrest, compressions should be at least one-third the
anteroposterior chest diameter, which is approximately 2 inches for most school-age
children. Answer B is incorrect because compression depth must be proportional to
,body size rather than a fixed measurement. Using a depth that is too shallow, as in
answer C, fails to generate adequate cardiac output, while excessive depth risks internal
injury.
Question 2 of 50
You and a colleague respond to a 4-month-old infant found unresponsive in a crib. The
infant is not breathing and has a bradycardic pulse below 60 beats per minute. You
begin CPR with two rescuers present. Which compression-to-ventilation ratio should you
use?
A. 30 compressions to 2 breaths
B. 15 compressions to 2 breaths ✓ CORRECT
C. 5 compressions to 1 breath
D. 20 compressions to 2 breaths
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Two-rescuer CPR for an infant or child uses a 15:2 compression-to-ventilation
ratio to maximize coronary and cerebral perfusion. Answer A describes the
single-rescuer ratio, which is less efficient when two providers are available. The 5:1
ratio in answer C is outdated, and 20:2 is not a recognized PALS ratio.
Question 3 of 50
An 8-year-old child is in cardiac arrest in the emergency department. The monitor shows
ventricular fibrillation. The resuscitation cart has adult defibrillator pads but no pediatric
pads. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Apply adult pads because the child weighs more than 20 kg
B. Wait for pediatric pads to be retrieved from another unit before shocking
C. Use the adult pads, placing them anteroposteriorly if needed to avoid overlap ✓
CORRECT
D. Use pediatric pads for all children under 12 years regardless of size
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: If pediatric-specific pads are unavailable, adult pads may be used on a child
over one year old, placed anteroposteriorly if necessary to avoid pad overlap. Answer A
is tempting but ignores the scenario where pediatric pads are not on hand, and answer
D incorrectly limits pediatric pads to an arbitrary age rather than weight. Pad selection is
primarily based on body size and the manufacturer's instructions.
Question 4 of 50
A 2-year-old child is eating a piece of hot dog in the daycare cafeteria when suddenly
the child begins coughing forcefully and clutching the throat. The child is conscious and
making audible wheezing sounds between coughs. Which intervention is most
appropriate?
A. Perform abdominal thrusts while standing behind the child
B. Deliver 5 back slaps followed by 5 chest thrusts in the supine position
C. Lay the child down and open the airway with a tongue-jaw lift
D. Deliver 5 back slaps followed by 5 abdominal thrusts while standing or kneeling ✓
CORRECT
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: For a child with severe foreign-body airway obstruction, the algorithm calls
for alternating five back slaps and five abdominal thrusts until the object is expelled or
the child becomes unresponsive. Answer A omits the essential back slaps, and answer
B incorrectly substitutes chest thrusts, which are reserved for infants under one year.
Answer C delays definitive intervention.
Question 5 of 50
A 6-year-old child is pulled from a swimming pool unresponsive and apneic. The
lifeguard checks for a pulse and finds none. Which action should the lifeguard take first?
Questions with Detailed Rationales | 100% Verified | Pass
Guaranteed – A+ Graded
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section 1 | Pediatric Basic Life Support & Recognition of Arrest | Q1 – Q10
Section 2 | Respiratory Emergencies & Airway Management | Q11 – Q20
Section 3 | Bradycardia & Tachycardia Algorithms | Q21 – Q30
Section 4 | Cardiac Arrest Management | Q31 – Q40
Section 5 | Post-Resuscitation Care & Team Dynamics | Q41 – Q50
Instructions: Choose the single best answer. Pass: 84% in 84 minutes.
══════════════════════════════════════
SECTION 1: PEDIATRIC BASIC LIFE SUPPORT & RECOGNITION OF ARREST Q1 – Q10
══════════════════════════════════════
Question 1 of 50
A 7-year-old child collapses during gym class. The child is unresponsive, not breathing,
and has no palpable pulse. A single rescuer begins chest compressions. How deep
should the compressions be for this child?
A. At least one-third the anteroposterior diameter of the chest, approximately 2 inches
✓ CORRECT
B. Exactly 2 inches regardless of the child's body size
C. At least one-fourth the anteroposterior diameter, approximately 1.5 inches
D. At least 2.4 inches to ensure adequate cardiac output
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: For a child in cardiac arrest, compressions should be at least one-third the
anteroposterior chest diameter, which is approximately 2 inches for most school-age
children. Answer B is incorrect because compression depth must be proportional to
,body size rather than a fixed measurement. Using a depth that is too shallow, as in
answer C, fails to generate adequate cardiac output, while excessive depth risks internal
injury.
Question 2 of 50
You and a colleague respond to a 4-month-old infant found unresponsive in a crib. The
infant is not breathing and has a bradycardic pulse below 60 beats per minute. You
begin CPR with two rescuers present. Which compression-to-ventilation ratio should you
use?
A. 30 compressions to 2 breaths
B. 15 compressions to 2 breaths ✓ CORRECT
C. 5 compressions to 1 breath
D. 20 compressions to 2 breaths
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Two-rescuer CPR for an infant or child uses a 15:2 compression-to-ventilation
ratio to maximize coronary and cerebral perfusion. Answer A describes the
single-rescuer ratio, which is less efficient when two providers are available. The 5:1
ratio in answer C is outdated, and 20:2 is not a recognized PALS ratio.
Question 3 of 50
An 8-year-old child is in cardiac arrest in the emergency department. The monitor shows
ventricular fibrillation. The resuscitation cart has adult defibrillator pads but no pediatric
pads. Which action is most appropriate?
A. Apply adult pads because the child weighs more than 20 kg
B. Wait for pediatric pads to be retrieved from another unit before shocking
C. Use the adult pads, placing them anteroposteriorly if needed to avoid overlap ✓
CORRECT
D. Use pediatric pads for all children under 12 years regardless of size
, Correct Answer: C
Rationale: If pediatric-specific pads are unavailable, adult pads may be used on a child
over one year old, placed anteroposteriorly if necessary to avoid pad overlap. Answer A
is tempting but ignores the scenario where pediatric pads are not on hand, and answer
D incorrectly limits pediatric pads to an arbitrary age rather than weight. Pad selection is
primarily based on body size and the manufacturer's instructions.
Question 4 of 50
A 2-year-old child is eating a piece of hot dog in the daycare cafeteria when suddenly
the child begins coughing forcefully and clutching the throat. The child is conscious and
making audible wheezing sounds between coughs. Which intervention is most
appropriate?
A. Perform abdominal thrusts while standing behind the child
B. Deliver 5 back slaps followed by 5 chest thrusts in the supine position
C. Lay the child down and open the airway with a tongue-jaw lift
D. Deliver 5 back slaps followed by 5 abdominal thrusts while standing or kneeling ✓
CORRECT
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: For a child with severe foreign-body airway obstruction, the algorithm calls
for alternating five back slaps and five abdominal thrusts until the object is expelled or
the child becomes unresponsive. Answer A omits the essential back slaps, and answer
B incorrectly substitutes chest thrusts, which are reserved for infants under one year.
Answer C delays definitive intervention.
Question 5 of 50
A 6-year-old child is pulled from a swimming pool unresponsive and apneic. The
lifeguard checks for a pulse and finds none. Which action should the lifeguard take first?
