PALS 2026/2027 Certification Exam Prep:
120 Pediatric Advanced Life Support
Practice Questions with Answers &
Explanations for Healthcare Providers
Description:
Master PALS 2026/2027 with 120 board-style practice questions covering CPR ratios,
shock recognition, airway management, cardiac arrhythmias, and post-resuscitation
care. Detailed answers with clinical explanations. Download the complete 2026/2027 PALS
examination paper and pass your certification with confidence.
Download now and ace your PALS exam tomorrow.
, PALS 2026 Practice Exam: 120 Questions & Answers
Section A: Resuscitation Ratios and Basic Life Support
Question 1
A single rescuer is performing CPR on a child in cardiac arrest. What is the correct
compression-to-ventilation ratio?
A) 15:2
B) 30:1
C) 30:2
D) 15:1
Answer: C
Explanation: The correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for a single rescuer performing
CPR on a child is 30:2. This ratio optimizes coronary perfusion pressure while providing
adequate ventilation. For two-rescuer child CPR, the ratio changes to 15:2.
Question 2
When two rescuers are performing CPR on a pediatric patient, what compression-to-
ventilation ratio should be used?
A) 30:2
B) 15:2
C) 15:1
D) 30:1
Answer: B
Explanation: For two-rescuer pediatric CPR, the recommended compression-to-ventilation
ratio is 15:2. This allows for more frequent ventilations since two providers can coordinate
efforts without compromising compression quality. The ratio remains 30:2 for single-rescuer
scenarios regardless of patient age excluding newborns.
,Question 3
You are alone and witness a child suddenly collapse. There is no suspected head or neck
injury. A colleague has responded to your shout for help and is activating the emergency
response system and retrieving a defibrillator. After delivering 30 compressions, what is your
next action?
A) Wait for the colleague to return before providing breaths
B) Open the airway with a head tilt-chin lift maneuver and give 2 breaths
C) Continue chest compressions without interruption
D) Reassess for a pulse before providing breaths
Answer: B
Explanation: After completing 30 chest compressions, the rescuer should open the airway
using a head tilt-chin lift maneuver (no suspected trauma) and deliver 2 rescue breaths. Each
breath should produce visible chest rise. The compression-to-ventilation cycle continues until
additional help arrives or the patient shows signs of return of spontaneous circulation.
Question 4
You find an infant who is unresponsive, not breathing, and without a pulse. You shout for
nearby help, but no one arrives. What action should you take next?
A) Leave immediately to activate the emergency response system
B) Provide CPR for approximately 2 minutes before leaving to activate the emergency
response system
C) Continue CPR until the infant regains consciousness
D) Provide only rescue breaths until help arrives
Answer: B
Explanation: For an unresponsive infant or child with no pulse and no breathing, if the
rescuer is alone and no one has responded to shouts for help, the rescuer should provide CPR
for approximately 2 minutes (about 5 cycles of 30:2) before leaving to activate the emergency
response system. This prioritizes immediate perfusion and oxygenation to vital organs.
, Section B: Airway Management and Ventilation
Question 5
How can rescuers ensure they are providing effective breaths when using a bag-mask device?
A) By compressing the bag completely with each breath
B) By observing the chest rise with each breath
C) By listening for air escaping around the mask
D) By delivering breaths as quickly as possible
Answer: B
Explanation: Visible chest rise is the most reliable indicator of effective ventilation during
bag-mask ventilation. Complete bag compression is unnecessary and may cause gastric
insufflation. Slow, steady compressions over 1 second should produce visible chest rise
without causing gastric distention.
Question 6
You need to provide rescue breaths to a child victim who has a pulse but is not breathing.
What is the appropriate rate for delivering breaths?
A) 1 breath every 2 to 3 seconds
B) 1 breath every 3 to 5 seconds
C) 2 breaths every 5 seconds
D) 1 breath every 6 to 8 seconds
Answer: B
Explanation: For a child with a pulse but absent or inadequate breathing, rescue breaths
should be delivered at a rate of 1 breath every 3 to 5 seconds (approximately 12 to 20 breaths
per minute). Each breath should be delivered over 1 second and produce visible chest rise.
Question 7
During bag-mask ventilation, how should you hold the mask to create an effective seal
between the child's face and the mask?
A) Position your fingers using the E-C clamp technique
B) Press the mask firmly against the face with both hands
C) Hold the mask by its dome only
D) Use a two-handed thenar eminence technique
120 Pediatric Advanced Life Support
Practice Questions with Answers &
Explanations for Healthcare Providers
Description:
Master PALS 2026/2027 with 120 board-style practice questions covering CPR ratios,
shock recognition, airway management, cardiac arrhythmias, and post-resuscitation
care. Detailed answers with clinical explanations. Download the complete 2026/2027 PALS
examination paper and pass your certification with confidence.
Download now and ace your PALS exam tomorrow.
, PALS 2026 Practice Exam: 120 Questions & Answers
Section A: Resuscitation Ratios and Basic Life Support
Question 1
A single rescuer is performing CPR on a child in cardiac arrest. What is the correct
compression-to-ventilation ratio?
A) 15:2
B) 30:1
C) 30:2
D) 15:1
Answer: C
Explanation: The correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for a single rescuer performing
CPR on a child is 30:2. This ratio optimizes coronary perfusion pressure while providing
adequate ventilation. For two-rescuer child CPR, the ratio changes to 15:2.
Question 2
When two rescuers are performing CPR on a pediatric patient, what compression-to-
ventilation ratio should be used?
A) 30:2
B) 15:2
C) 15:1
D) 30:1
Answer: B
Explanation: For two-rescuer pediatric CPR, the recommended compression-to-ventilation
ratio is 15:2. This allows for more frequent ventilations since two providers can coordinate
efforts without compromising compression quality. The ratio remains 30:2 for single-rescuer
scenarios regardless of patient age excluding newborns.
,Question 3
You are alone and witness a child suddenly collapse. There is no suspected head or neck
injury. A colleague has responded to your shout for help and is activating the emergency
response system and retrieving a defibrillator. After delivering 30 compressions, what is your
next action?
A) Wait for the colleague to return before providing breaths
B) Open the airway with a head tilt-chin lift maneuver and give 2 breaths
C) Continue chest compressions without interruption
D) Reassess for a pulse before providing breaths
Answer: B
Explanation: After completing 30 chest compressions, the rescuer should open the airway
using a head tilt-chin lift maneuver (no suspected trauma) and deliver 2 rescue breaths. Each
breath should produce visible chest rise. The compression-to-ventilation cycle continues until
additional help arrives or the patient shows signs of return of spontaneous circulation.
Question 4
You find an infant who is unresponsive, not breathing, and without a pulse. You shout for
nearby help, but no one arrives. What action should you take next?
A) Leave immediately to activate the emergency response system
B) Provide CPR for approximately 2 minutes before leaving to activate the emergency
response system
C) Continue CPR until the infant regains consciousness
D) Provide only rescue breaths until help arrives
Answer: B
Explanation: For an unresponsive infant or child with no pulse and no breathing, if the
rescuer is alone and no one has responded to shouts for help, the rescuer should provide CPR
for approximately 2 minutes (about 5 cycles of 30:2) before leaving to activate the emergency
response system. This prioritizes immediate perfusion and oxygenation to vital organs.
, Section B: Airway Management and Ventilation
Question 5
How can rescuers ensure they are providing effective breaths when using a bag-mask device?
A) By compressing the bag completely with each breath
B) By observing the chest rise with each breath
C) By listening for air escaping around the mask
D) By delivering breaths as quickly as possible
Answer: B
Explanation: Visible chest rise is the most reliable indicator of effective ventilation during
bag-mask ventilation. Complete bag compression is unnecessary and may cause gastric
insufflation. Slow, steady compressions over 1 second should produce visible chest rise
without causing gastric distention.
Question 6
You need to provide rescue breaths to a child victim who has a pulse but is not breathing.
What is the appropriate rate for delivering breaths?
A) 1 breath every 2 to 3 seconds
B) 1 breath every 3 to 5 seconds
C) 2 breaths every 5 seconds
D) 1 breath every 6 to 8 seconds
Answer: B
Explanation: For a child with a pulse but absent or inadequate breathing, rescue breaths
should be delivered at a rate of 1 breath every 3 to 5 seconds (approximately 12 to 20 breaths
per minute). Each breath should be delivered over 1 second and produce visible chest rise.
Question 7
During bag-mask ventilation, how should you hold the mask to create an effective seal
between the child's face and the mask?
A) Position your fingers using the E-C clamp technique
B) Press the mask firmly against the face with both hands
C) Hold the mask by its dome only
D) Use a two-handed thenar eminence technique
