AHA PALS Exam Questions & Answers
2025/2026 | Verified 100% Correct |
Pediatric Advanced Life Support
Original PALS Practice Questions
1. When assessing a pediatric patient, which is the first
step in the primary survey?
A. Checking blood pressure
B. Assessing airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs)
C. Obtaining medical history
D. Checking glucose levels
Answer: B
Explanation: The primary survey always begins with assessing ABCs—airway, breathing, and
circulation—to identify life-threatening conditions immediately.
2. Which sign indicates inadequate breathing in a child?
A. Normal respiratory rate
B. Nasal flaring, grunting, or retractions
C. Calm and quiet breathing
D. Pink, warm skin
Answer: B
Explanation: Signs like nasal flaring, grunting, and retractions indicate respiratory distress and
require prompt intervention.
,3. A 4-year-old child is unresponsive but has a pulse.
What is the first action?
A. Begin chest compressions
B. Open the airway and provide rescue breaths
C. Give epinephrine
D. Attach AED
Answer: B
Explanation: If a child has a pulse but is not breathing, provide rescue breaths at a rate of
12–20 per minute.
4. In pediatric CPR, what is the recommended
compression-to-ventilation ratio for one rescuer?
A. 30:2
B. 15:2
C. 10:1
D. 5:1
Answer: A
Explanation: One-rescuer pediatric CPR uses 30 compressions to 2 breaths, similar to adults.
5. For two rescuers performing CPR on a child, what is
the recommended compression-to-ventilation ratio?
A. 15:2
B. 30:2
C. 5:1
D. 20:2
Answer: A
Explanation: Two-rescuer pediatric CPR uses 15 compressions to 2 breaths to provide more
frequent ventilation.
,6. Which is the correct depth of chest compressions for a
child?
A. About 1 inch (2.5 cm)
B. About 2 inches (5 cm)
C. At least 1.5 inches (4 cm) but less than 2 inches (5 cm)
D. 3 inches (7.5 cm)
Answer: C
Explanation: Pediatric chest compressions should be about 1/3 the anterior-posterior diameter
of the chest, roughly 4 cm in a child.
7. A 6-year-old is experiencing a sudden collapse with no
pulse. Which rhythm is most likely?
A. Ventricular fibrillation
B. Sinus bradycardia
C. Atrial flutter
D. Normal sinus rhythm
Answer: A
Explanation: Sudden cardiac arrest in children is often due to ventricular fibrillation or
pulseless ventricular tachycardia.
8. What is the recommended energy dose for
defibrillation in pediatric patients?
A. 1–2 J/kg initial, 4 J/kg subsequent
B. 10 J/kg initially
C. 5–10 J/kg for all shocks
D. 0.5 J/kg initially
Answer: A
Explanation: Pediatric defibrillation starts at 1–2 J/kg and increases to 4 J/kg for subsequent
shocks if needed.
, 9. Which is the most common cause of cardiac arrest in
children?
A. Respiratory failure leading to hypoxia
B. Myocardial infarction
C. Stroke
D. Pulmonary embolism
Answer: A
Explanation: Pediatric cardiac arrests are often secondary to respiratory failure or shock rather
than primary cardiac events.
10. During a pediatric code, you notice pulseless
electrical activity (PEA). What is the next step?
A. Immediate defibrillation
B. High-quality CPR and epinephrine every 3–5 minutes
C. Administer amiodarone
D. Place endotracheal tube only
Answer: B
Explanation: PEA is a non-shockable rhythm; continue CPR and administer epinephrine every
3–5 minutes.
11. Which medication is first-line for pediatric bradycardia
with poor perfusion?
A. Epinephrine
B. Atropine
C. Amiodarone
D. Adenosine
Answer: A
Explanation: Epinephrine (0.01 mg/kg IV/IO) is first-line for symptomatic bradycardia when
accompanied by poor perfusion.
2025/2026 | Verified 100% Correct |
Pediatric Advanced Life Support
Original PALS Practice Questions
1. When assessing a pediatric patient, which is the first
step in the primary survey?
A. Checking blood pressure
B. Assessing airway, breathing, and circulation (ABCs)
C. Obtaining medical history
D. Checking glucose levels
Answer: B
Explanation: The primary survey always begins with assessing ABCs—airway, breathing, and
circulation—to identify life-threatening conditions immediately.
2. Which sign indicates inadequate breathing in a child?
A. Normal respiratory rate
B. Nasal flaring, grunting, or retractions
C. Calm and quiet breathing
D. Pink, warm skin
Answer: B
Explanation: Signs like nasal flaring, grunting, and retractions indicate respiratory distress and
require prompt intervention.
,3. A 4-year-old child is unresponsive but has a pulse.
What is the first action?
A. Begin chest compressions
B. Open the airway and provide rescue breaths
C. Give epinephrine
D. Attach AED
Answer: B
Explanation: If a child has a pulse but is not breathing, provide rescue breaths at a rate of
12–20 per minute.
4. In pediatric CPR, what is the recommended
compression-to-ventilation ratio for one rescuer?
A. 30:2
B. 15:2
C. 10:1
D. 5:1
Answer: A
Explanation: One-rescuer pediatric CPR uses 30 compressions to 2 breaths, similar to adults.
5. For two rescuers performing CPR on a child, what is
the recommended compression-to-ventilation ratio?
A. 15:2
B. 30:2
C. 5:1
D. 20:2
Answer: A
Explanation: Two-rescuer pediatric CPR uses 15 compressions to 2 breaths to provide more
frequent ventilation.
,6. Which is the correct depth of chest compressions for a
child?
A. About 1 inch (2.5 cm)
B. About 2 inches (5 cm)
C. At least 1.5 inches (4 cm) but less than 2 inches (5 cm)
D. 3 inches (7.5 cm)
Answer: C
Explanation: Pediatric chest compressions should be about 1/3 the anterior-posterior diameter
of the chest, roughly 4 cm in a child.
7. A 6-year-old is experiencing a sudden collapse with no
pulse. Which rhythm is most likely?
A. Ventricular fibrillation
B. Sinus bradycardia
C. Atrial flutter
D. Normal sinus rhythm
Answer: A
Explanation: Sudden cardiac arrest in children is often due to ventricular fibrillation or
pulseless ventricular tachycardia.
8. What is the recommended energy dose for
defibrillation in pediatric patients?
A. 1–2 J/kg initial, 4 J/kg subsequent
B. 10 J/kg initially
C. 5–10 J/kg for all shocks
D. 0.5 J/kg initially
Answer: A
Explanation: Pediatric defibrillation starts at 1–2 J/kg and increases to 4 J/kg for subsequent
shocks if needed.
, 9. Which is the most common cause of cardiac arrest in
children?
A. Respiratory failure leading to hypoxia
B. Myocardial infarction
C. Stroke
D. Pulmonary embolism
Answer: A
Explanation: Pediatric cardiac arrests are often secondary to respiratory failure or shock rather
than primary cardiac events.
10. During a pediatric code, you notice pulseless
electrical activity (PEA). What is the next step?
A. Immediate defibrillation
B. High-quality CPR and epinephrine every 3–5 minutes
C. Administer amiodarone
D. Place endotracheal tube only
Answer: B
Explanation: PEA is a non-shockable rhythm; continue CPR and administer epinephrine every
3–5 minutes.
11. Which medication is first-line for pediatric bradycardia
with poor perfusion?
A. Epinephrine
B. Atropine
C. Amiodarone
D. Adenosine
Answer: A
Explanation: Epinephrine (0.01 mg/kg IV/IO) is first-line for symptomatic bradycardia when
accompanied by poor perfusion.
