Respiratory 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 Respiratory Arrest flashcards as text
When using a pocket mask for rescue breathing, where should you position yourself relative to the patient?
Answer: At the patient's side near the head
Positioning at the patient's side near the head allows proper mask seal and head-tilt with one or two hands.
A drowning victim is pulled from water, is unresponsive, and has no breathing. What should be done first?
Answer: Open the airway and give 2 rescue breaths before anything else
Drowning victims have hypoxia as the primary cause, so AHA recommends starting with 2 rescue breaths before compressions.
When performing the head-tilt–chin-lift, which condition should make you use a jaw-thrust instead?
Answer: Suspected cervical spine injury
A jaw-thrust opens the airway without extending the neck, protecting a potentially injured cervical spine.
You are alone with an adult who is in respiratory arrest with a pulse. Which action is most appropriate?
Answer: Call 911, then provide rescue breaths at 1 per 5–6 seconds
Activate EMS first, then provide rescue breaths since the patient still has a pulse.
Which finding during rescue breathing indicates gastric inflation is occurring?
Answer: The abdomen rises rather than the chest
Visible abdominal rise instead of chest rise suggests air is entering the stomach, increasing aspiration risk.
An infant is found unresponsive with no breathing but has a pulse above 60/min. What is the correct next step?
Answer: Provide rescue breaths at 1 every 2–3 seconds
Infants with a pulse >60/min and absent breathing need rescue breathing only, at 20–30 breaths/min.
What is the maximum time you should spend attempting to establish an airway before resuming CPR in cardiac arrest?
Answer: 10 seconds
Minimize interruptions; any single attempt to open or secure the airway should take no longer than 10 seconds.