PALS Instructor Questions with Correct
Answers
How do you check for breathing and pulse? -ANSWER - Check for breathing and a
pulse simultaneously. Feel a central artery while scanning for chest rise and fall. On an
infant, check the brachial pulse. On a child, check the carotid or femoral pulse. Check
for at least 5, but NO MORE than 10 seconds.
If you arrive at the scene and find the victim is unresponsive but has a pulse and is
breathing, what do you do? -ANSWER - Should for help, monitor and stay with the
victim.
If you find a victim with a pulse but is not breathing, what do you do? -ANSWER -
Provide rescue breathing at 1 breath every 3-5 seconds (for a respiratory rate of 12-20).
Activate the emergency response system if not done at 2 mins. If pulse of the child
drops below 60 beats/min with signs of poor perfusion, add in compressions.
If you find a child victim with no pulse and only gasping, what are next steps? -
ANSWER - Start CPR. Use an AED as soon as it b comes available.
How does your response differ for a witnessed collapse versus a child that was found
down? -ANSWER - If the collapse was witnessed, leave the victim to activate the
emergency response, shout for help, and get the AED. If the collapse was not
witnessed, start CPR and complete 5 rounds (2 mins) before leaving to activate the
emergency response and get the AED.
If using the AED on auto mode and no shock is advised (or find an unshockable
rhythm), what are next steps? -ANSWER - Immediately resume CPR beginning with
chest compressions.
What are signs of poor perfusion in a child? -ANSWER - 1. Temperature: cool
extremities.
2.AMS: decreased LOC.
3. Pulses: weak pulses.
4. Skin: paleness, mottling, cyanosis.
What is the universal compression rate? -ANSWER - 100 - 120 compressions / minute
What is the compressin to ventilation ratio for 1 rescuer? For 2? -ANSWER - For 1
rescuer, the ventilation to compression ratio is 30:2. For 2 rescuers, the ratio is 15:2.
, How are chest compressions performed for a child? -ANSWER - For a child over 1 yr,
chest compressions are completed with either 1 or 2 hands. Compress the chest 1/3 the
AP diameter (about 2 in, or 5 cm).
How are chest compressions performed for an infant? -ANSWER - For 1 rescuer, use 2
fingers just below the nipple line. Do not compress the tip of the breastbone. For 2
rescuers, use the 2-thumb-encircling-hands technique. Compress at least 1/3 the AP
diameter (1.5 in, or 4cm).
During CPR, minimize interruptions in compressions to -ANSWER - Less than 10
seconds.
Why should you allow for complete chest recoil while performing chest compressions? -
ANSWER - Complete chest recoil allows the heart to fill with blood between
compressions.
How are breaths given during CPR? -ANSWER - 2 breaths are given, each over 1
second. Use the head-tilt-chin-lift to open the airway. If head or neck trauma is
suspected, use a jaw-thrust maneuver to open the airway.
How do you open the airway in a patient with suspected head or neck trauma? -
ANSWER - Use the jaw-thrust maneuver. If this does not open the airway, use the
head-tilt-chin-lift.
How do you open an infants airway? -ANSWER - Tilt the infants head to a sniffing
position. Extending it more will close the airway. The external ear canal should be level
with the infants shoulder.
How often should rescuers switch while giving compressions? -ANSWER - Switch
providers every 2 mins, or after 5 cycles of CPR.
Why is the 2-thumbs-encircling-hands technique preferred over the 2-finger technique
for CPR with infants? -ANSWER - It produces a better blood supply to the heart and
ensures constant force of chest compressions.
How do you instruct an AED to deliver a pediatric shock dose? -ANSWER - The
pediatric pads may come with an attenuator to lower the dose, or there may be a switch
on the AED. If there is no way to lower the shock dosage, use adult dosage.
When do you use child sized pads? -ANSWER - Use child size pads for infants and
children under 8. Use adult pads if child pads are. It available, making sure they don't
touch. Use AP placement if needed.
What is the initial impression? -ANSWER - An assessment completed over a few
seconds, from the doorway. Used to identify what type of problem is going on, and if it is
life threatening.
Answers
How do you check for breathing and pulse? -ANSWER - Check for breathing and a
pulse simultaneously. Feel a central artery while scanning for chest rise and fall. On an
infant, check the brachial pulse. On a child, check the carotid or femoral pulse. Check
for at least 5, but NO MORE than 10 seconds.
If you arrive at the scene and find the victim is unresponsive but has a pulse and is
breathing, what do you do? -ANSWER - Should for help, monitor and stay with the
victim.
If you find a victim with a pulse but is not breathing, what do you do? -ANSWER -
Provide rescue breathing at 1 breath every 3-5 seconds (for a respiratory rate of 12-20).
Activate the emergency response system if not done at 2 mins. If pulse of the child
drops below 60 beats/min with signs of poor perfusion, add in compressions.
If you find a child victim with no pulse and only gasping, what are next steps? -
ANSWER - Start CPR. Use an AED as soon as it b comes available.
How does your response differ for a witnessed collapse versus a child that was found
down? -ANSWER - If the collapse was witnessed, leave the victim to activate the
emergency response, shout for help, and get the AED. If the collapse was not
witnessed, start CPR and complete 5 rounds (2 mins) before leaving to activate the
emergency response and get the AED.
If using the AED on auto mode and no shock is advised (or find an unshockable
rhythm), what are next steps? -ANSWER - Immediately resume CPR beginning with
chest compressions.
What are signs of poor perfusion in a child? -ANSWER - 1. Temperature: cool
extremities.
2.AMS: decreased LOC.
3. Pulses: weak pulses.
4. Skin: paleness, mottling, cyanosis.
What is the universal compression rate? -ANSWER - 100 - 120 compressions / minute
What is the compressin to ventilation ratio for 1 rescuer? For 2? -ANSWER - For 1
rescuer, the ventilation to compression ratio is 30:2. For 2 rescuers, the ratio is 15:2.
, How are chest compressions performed for a child? -ANSWER - For a child over 1 yr,
chest compressions are completed with either 1 or 2 hands. Compress the chest 1/3 the
AP diameter (about 2 in, or 5 cm).
How are chest compressions performed for an infant? -ANSWER - For 1 rescuer, use 2
fingers just below the nipple line. Do not compress the tip of the breastbone. For 2
rescuers, use the 2-thumb-encircling-hands technique. Compress at least 1/3 the AP
diameter (1.5 in, or 4cm).
During CPR, minimize interruptions in compressions to -ANSWER - Less than 10
seconds.
Why should you allow for complete chest recoil while performing chest compressions? -
ANSWER - Complete chest recoil allows the heart to fill with blood between
compressions.
How are breaths given during CPR? -ANSWER - 2 breaths are given, each over 1
second. Use the head-tilt-chin-lift to open the airway. If head or neck trauma is
suspected, use a jaw-thrust maneuver to open the airway.
How do you open the airway in a patient with suspected head or neck trauma? -
ANSWER - Use the jaw-thrust maneuver. If this does not open the airway, use the
head-tilt-chin-lift.
How do you open an infants airway? -ANSWER - Tilt the infants head to a sniffing
position. Extending it more will close the airway. The external ear canal should be level
with the infants shoulder.
How often should rescuers switch while giving compressions? -ANSWER - Switch
providers every 2 mins, or after 5 cycles of CPR.
Why is the 2-thumbs-encircling-hands technique preferred over the 2-finger technique
for CPR with infants? -ANSWER - It produces a better blood supply to the heart and
ensures constant force of chest compressions.
How do you instruct an AED to deliver a pediatric shock dose? -ANSWER - The
pediatric pads may come with an attenuator to lower the dose, or there may be a switch
on the AED. If there is no way to lower the shock dosage, use adult dosage.
When do you use child sized pads? -ANSWER - Use child size pads for infants and
children under 8. Use adult pads if child pads are. It available, making sure they don't
touch. Use AP placement if needed.
What is the initial impression? -ANSWER - An assessment completed over a few
seconds, from the doorway. Used to identify what type of problem is going on, and if it is
life threatening.
