ACLS Final Comprehensive
BLS & Chocking Relief of Adults, Children, Infants; Opioid Overdose; EKG interpretation;
Cardiac anatomy; Team dynamics; BLS/Primary/Secondary Assessment; H's & T's; Airway
Management; Bradycardia ACLS Algorithm; ACS ACLS Algorithm; Stroke ACLS Algorithm;
Tachycardia ACLS Algorithm; Immediate Post-Cardiac Arrest Care ACLS Algorithm;
Pharmacology.
What is the most common cause of cardiac arrest in children?
Respiratory failure or shock
What is cardiac arrest?
Occurs when the heart develops an abnormal rhythm and stops beating or beats too ineffectively
to circulate blood to the brain and other vital organs
What is heart attack?
A blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle.
List the eight components of high quality CPR.
1. Start compressions within 10 seconds of recognition of cardiac arrest.
2. Compress at a rate of 100-120/min with a depth of at least 2 inches in adults/children and 1 1/2
inches in infants.
,3. Allow complete chest recoil after each compression.
4. Minimize interruptions in compressions (limit to <10 seconds).
5. Give effective breaths that make the chest visibly rise.
6. Switch compressors about every 2 minutes or earlier if fatigued.
7. Continue delivering chest compressions while the AED is charging.
8. Avoid prolonged rhythm analysis, frequent or inappropriate pulse checks, taking too long to
give breaths to the patient, excessive ventilation, or unnecessarily moving the patient.
What is the recommended compression depth for adults and children?
2 inches
What is the recommended compression depth for infants?
1 1/2 inches
What can result if a patient is ventilated too quickly?
,Hyperventilation -> excessive intrathoracic pressure and gastric inflation -> decreased venous
return -> decreased coronary and cerebral perfusion pressures -> diminished cardiac output ->
decreased rates of survival
What memory aid may be used when evaluating a patient's level of consciousness?
AVPU
Alert, responds to Verbal stimuli, responds to Painful stimuli, Unresponsive
Upon finding an unresponsive adult patient, you verified that the scene is safe, called for help
and asked that someone get an AED or defibrillator. Your next action should be to:
Simultaneously look for breathing and feel for a carotid pulse for no more than 10 seconds
Upon finding an unresponsive child, you verified that the scene is safe, called for help and asked
that someone get an AED or defibrillator. Your next action should be to:
Simultaneously look for breathing and feel for a carotid or femoral pulse for no more than 10
seconds
Upon finding an unresponsive infant, you verified that the scene is safe, called for help and asked
that someone get an AED or defibrillator. Your next action should be to:
Simultaneously look for breathing and feel for a brachial pulse for no more than 10 seconds
,Upon finding an unresponsive adult patient, you verified that the scene is safe, called for help
and asked that someone get an AED or defibrillator. You check for breathing and a carotid pulse
simultaneously. The patient has no pulse and is not breathing normally. Your next action should
be to:
Begin chest compressions; remove clothing; use AED as soon as it arrives
Upon finding an unresponsive adult patient, you verified that the scene is safe, called for help
and asked that someone get an AED or defibrillator. You check for breathing and a carotid pulse
simultaneously. The patient is breathing normally and a pulse is present. Your next action should
be to:
Continue to monitor until additional help arrives.
Upon finding an unresponsive infant or child, you verified that the scene is safe, called for help
and asked that someone get an AED or defibrillator. You check for breathing and a carotid pulse
simultaneously. The patient has no pulse and is not breathing normally. The arrest was not
sudden and not witnessed. Your next action should be to:
begin chest compressions 30:2 (1 rescuer), 15:2 (2 rescuer); if 2 rescuers are present, one rescuer
begins CPR and the other activates the ERS; use the AED as soon as it arrives; after about 2 min
of CPR, if you are still alone, activate the ERS and get the AED if not already done
Upon finding an unresponsive infant or child, you verified that the scene is safe, called for help
and asked that someone get an AED or defibrillator. You check for breathing and a carotid pulse
simultaneously. The patient has no pulse and is not breathing normally. The arrest was sudden
and witnessed. Your next action should be to:
Activate the emergency response system and retrieve the AED; begin chest compressions 30:2 (1
rescuer), 15:2 (2 rescuer)
,Upon finding an unresponsive infant or child, you verified that the scene is safe, called for help
and asked that someone get an AED or defibrillator. You check for breathing and a carotid pulse
simultaneously. The patient is breathing normally and a pulse is present. Your next action should
be to:
Activate ERS, return to victim and monitor until emergency responders arrive
Upon finding an unresponsive adult patient, you verified that the scene is safe, called for help
and asked that someone get an AED or defibrillator. You check for breathing and a carotid pulse
simultaneously. The patient is not breathing normally but a pulse is present. Your next action
should be to:
Provide rescue breathing (one breath every 5-6 seconds) and recheck for a pulse every 2 minutes;
be ready to perform high quality CPR if you do not feel a pulse; if opioid use is suspected,
consider administering naloxone
Upon finding an unresponsive infant or child, you verified that the scene is safe, called for help
and asked that someone get an AED or defibrillator. You check for breathing and a carotid pulse
simultaneously. The patient is not breathing normally but a pulse is present. Your next action
should be to:
Provide rescue breathing (one every 3-5 seconds); add compressions if pulse remains <60/min
with signs of poor perfusion; activate ERS after 2 min; continue rescue breathing and check
pulse about every 2 min (if no pulse begin CPR)
What is the purpose of the primary survey?
To detect the presence of life-threatening problems that require rapid interventions
What two cardiac arrest rhythms are shockable?
, VF and pVT
What two cardiac arrest rhythms are not shockable?
Asystole and PEA
During the primary survey, for what length of time should you assess for the presence of a pulse?
At least 5 seconds but no more than 10 seconds
What is the importance of measuring coronary perfusion pressure during CPR?
Represents myocardial blood flow during chest compressions and is a key determinant of the
success of resuscitation
What is an adequate coronary perfusion pressure (CPP)?
15 mm Hg
What is the importance of measuring waveform capnography (PETCO2) during CPR?
allows for evaluation of CPR quality, optimize chest compressions, detection of ROSC during
chest compressions or when a rhythm check reveals an organized rhythm, ET tube placement
What is an adequate waveform capnogrpahy (PETCO2) range?
BLS & Chocking Relief of Adults, Children, Infants; Opioid Overdose; EKG interpretation;
Cardiac anatomy; Team dynamics; BLS/Primary/Secondary Assessment; H's & T's; Airway
Management; Bradycardia ACLS Algorithm; ACS ACLS Algorithm; Stroke ACLS Algorithm;
Tachycardia ACLS Algorithm; Immediate Post-Cardiac Arrest Care ACLS Algorithm;
Pharmacology.
What is the most common cause of cardiac arrest in children?
Respiratory failure or shock
What is cardiac arrest?
Occurs when the heart develops an abnormal rhythm and stops beating or beats too ineffectively
to circulate blood to the brain and other vital organs
What is heart attack?
A blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle.
List the eight components of high quality CPR.
1. Start compressions within 10 seconds of recognition of cardiac arrest.
2. Compress at a rate of 100-120/min with a depth of at least 2 inches in adults/children and 1 1/2
inches in infants.
,3. Allow complete chest recoil after each compression.
4. Minimize interruptions in compressions (limit to <10 seconds).
5. Give effective breaths that make the chest visibly rise.
6. Switch compressors about every 2 minutes or earlier if fatigued.
7. Continue delivering chest compressions while the AED is charging.
8. Avoid prolonged rhythm analysis, frequent or inappropriate pulse checks, taking too long to
give breaths to the patient, excessive ventilation, or unnecessarily moving the patient.
What is the recommended compression depth for adults and children?
2 inches
What is the recommended compression depth for infants?
1 1/2 inches
What can result if a patient is ventilated too quickly?
,Hyperventilation -> excessive intrathoracic pressure and gastric inflation -> decreased venous
return -> decreased coronary and cerebral perfusion pressures -> diminished cardiac output ->
decreased rates of survival
What memory aid may be used when evaluating a patient's level of consciousness?
AVPU
Alert, responds to Verbal stimuli, responds to Painful stimuli, Unresponsive
Upon finding an unresponsive adult patient, you verified that the scene is safe, called for help
and asked that someone get an AED or defibrillator. Your next action should be to:
Simultaneously look for breathing and feel for a carotid pulse for no more than 10 seconds
Upon finding an unresponsive child, you verified that the scene is safe, called for help and asked
that someone get an AED or defibrillator. Your next action should be to:
Simultaneously look for breathing and feel for a carotid or femoral pulse for no more than 10
seconds
Upon finding an unresponsive infant, you verified that the scene is safe, called for help and asked
that someone get an AED or defibrillator. Your next action should be to:
Simultaneously look for breathing and feel for a brachial pulse for no more than 10 seconds
,Upon finding an unresponsive adult patient, you verified that the scene is safe, called for help
and asked that someone get an AED or defibrillator. You check for breathing and a carotid pulse
simultaneously. The patient has no pulse and is not breathing normally. Your next action should
be to:
Begin chest compressions; remove clothing; use AED as soon as it arrives
Upon finding an unresponsive adult patient, you verified that the scene is safe, called for help
and asked that someone get an AED or defibrillator. You check for breathing and a carotid pulse
simultaneously. The patient is breathing normally and a pulse is present. Your next action should
be to:
Continue to monitor until additional help arrives.
Upon finding an unresponsive infant or child, you verified that the scene is safe, called for help
and asked that someone get an AED or defibrillator. You check for breathing and a carotid pulse
simultaneously. The patient has no pulse and is not breathing normally. The arrest was not
sudden and not witnessed. Your next action should be to:
begin chest compressions 30:2 (1 rescuer), 15:2 (2 rescuer); if 2 rescuers are present, one rescuer
begins CPR and the other activates the ERS; use the AED as soon as it arrives; after about 2 min
of CPR, if you are still alone, activate the ERS and get the AED if not already done
Upon finding an unresponsive infant or child, you verified that the scene is safe, called for help
and asked that someone get an AED or defibrillator. You check for breathing and a carotid pulse
simultaneously. The patient has no pulse and is not breathing normally. The arrest was sudden
and witnessed. Your next action should be to:
Activate the emergency response system and retrieve the AED; begin chest compressions 30:2 (1
rescuer), 15:2 (2 rescuer)
,Upon finding an unresponsive infant or child, you verified that the scene is safe, called for help
and asked that someone get an AED or defibrillator. You check for breathing and a carotid pulse
simultaneously. The patient is breathing normally and a pulse is present. Your next action should
be to:
Activate ERS, return to victim and monitor until emergency responders arrive
Upon finding an unresponsive adult patient, you verified that the scene is safe, called for help
and asked that someone get an AED or defibrillator. You check for breathing and a carotid pulse
simultaneously. The patient is not breathing normally but a pulse is present. Your next action
should be to:
Provide rescue breathing (one breath every 5-6 seconds) and recheck for a pulse every 2 minutes;
be ready to perform high quality CPR if you do not feel a pulse; if opioid use is suspected,
consider administering naloxone
Upon finding an unresponsive infant or child, you verified that the scene is safe, called for help
and asked that someone get an AED or defibrillator. You check for breathing and a carotid pulse
simultaneously. The patient is not breathing normally but a pulse is present. Your next action
should be to:
Provide rescue breathing (one every 3-5 seconds); add compressions if pulse remains <60/min
with signs of poor perfusion; activate ERS after 2 min; continue rescue breathing and check
pulse about every 2 min (if no pulse begin CPR)
What is the purpose of the primary survey?
To detect the presence of life-threatening problems that require rapid interventions
What two cardiac arrest rhythms are shockable?
, VF and pVT
What two cardiac arrest rhythms are not shockable?
Asystole and PEA
During the primary survey, for what length of time should you assess for the presence of a pulse?
At least 5 seconds but no more than 10 seconds
What is the importance of measuring coronary perfusion pressure during CPR?
Represents myocardial blood flow during chest compressions and is a key determinant of the
success of resuscitation
What is an adequate coronary perfusion pressure (CPP)?
15 mm Hg
What is the importance of measuring waveform capnography (PETCO2) during CPR?
allows for evaluation of CPR quality, optimize chest compressions, detection of ROSC during
chest compressions or when a rhythm check reveals an organized rhythm, ET tube placement
What is an adequate waveform capnogrpahy (PETCO2) range?
