Practice Test GeeksBLS - Basic Life Support Practice Test
← All BLS Flashcard Decks

Recognition of Cardiac Arrest Flashcards

7 cards from real BLS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Recognition of Cardiac Arrest flashcards as text

  1. You witness a man collapse and suspect cardiac arrest. You are alone with your phone. In what ORDER should you act?

    Answer: Shout for help, call 911, start CPR

    For a witnessed adult cardiac arrest, the priority sequence is: confirm unresponsiveness, shout for help, call 911 (or have someone call), then begin CPR.

  2. A patient is found unresponsive with slow, gurgling breaths about every 10 seconds. How should you categorize this breathing?

    Answer: Abnormal — treat as cardiac arrest

    Slow, gasping, or gurgling breaths are classified as abnormal (agonal) breathing; the victim should be treated as being in cardiac arrest.

  3. Which pulse site is preferred when checking for a pulse in an unresponsive infant?

    Answer: Brachial artery

    The brachial artery on the inner upper arm is the preferred pulse check site for infants because the neck is short and the carotid can be difficult to locate.

  4. A person is found slumped in a chair, unresponsive, with no visible breathing. An AED is 2 minutes away. What should the first responder do FIRST?

    Answer: Move the victim to a flat surface, then call for the AED

    The victim should be placed on a firm, flat surface (which also confirms position for effective compressions) while the AED is retrieved, and CPR should begin immediately.

  5. Which statement about ventricular fibrillation (VF) as a cause of cardiac arrest is CORRECT?

    Answer: VF is the most common initial rhythm in sudden adult cardiac arrest

    Ventricular fibrillation is the most common initial rhythm seen in witnessed sudden cardiac arrest in adults and is the primary indication for defibrillation.

  6. How does early defibrillation affect survival from cardiac arrest caused by ventricular fibrillation?

    Answer: Every minute of delay reduces survival by approximately 7–10%

    For VF cardiac arrest, each minute without defibrillation reduces survival by approximately 7–10%, underscoring the importance of rapid AED use.

  7. A victim is found unresponsive and you are not sure if they have a pulse. According to BLS guidelines, you should:

    Answer: Start CPR — the risk of unnecessary CPR is lower than the risk of delayed CPR

    AHA guidelines state that if you cannot definitively feel a pulse within 10 seconds, you should assume cardiac arrest and begin CPR, because the harm from unnecessary CPR is far less than the harm from delayed CPR.