BLS Practice Test: Video 1 Answers (25 Questions) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which behavior MOST disrupts effective team dynamics during cardiac arrest?

Rotating compressors every 2 minutes
Verbalizing when an AED is analyzing rhythm
Multiple team members giving simultaneous orders (Correct answer)
Using a checklist for medication timing

Correct answer: Multiple team members giving simultaneous orders

Multiple simultaneous orders create confusion, divide attention, and undermine the team leader's authority, leading to errors.

Question 2: Which statement best describes effective team communication during BLS?

Everyone should speak at once
Use only hand signals
Avoid speaking during compressions
Use clear, concise, and direct verbal commands (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Use clear, concise, and direct verbal commands

Effective team communication during BLS requires clarity and directness to ensure rapid and accurate execution of tasks. Using clear, concise, and direct verbal commands minimizes misunderstandings and allows team members to quickly understand and act upon instructions. This streamlined communication is vital for efficient resuscitation efforts and improving patient survival.

Question 3: During a code, the team leader gives an order but no one responds. What should the leader do NEXT?

Pause compressions to get everyone's attention
Direct the order to a specific team member by name (Correct answer)
Assume the task is being handled and continue
Repeat the order louder to the whole team

Correct answer: Direct the order to a specific team member by name

Directing orders to a named individual ensures clear accountability and avoids the 'bystander effect' where everyone assumes someone else will act.

Question 4: What is the most critical factor in effective team-based BLS?

All members giving commands
Performing compressions quickly
Minimizing oxygen use
Clear communication among team members (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Clear communication among team members

In team-based BLS, clear communication is paramount for effective resuscitation. It ensures that tasks are assigned efficiently, roles are understood, and interventions are coordinated without delay or duplication. Effective communication minimizes errors, optimizes performance, and ultimately improves patient outcomes by creating a cohesive and well-organized response.

Question 5: What is the PRIMARY purpose of assigning roles BEFORE beginning CPR when multiple rescuers are present?

To satisfy AHA training requirements
To ensure each task is covered without duplication or gaps (Correct answer)
To establish a chain of command for legal documentation
To allow the most experienced person to rest initially

Correct answer: To ensure each task is covered without duplication or gaps

Pre-assigning roles prevents task overlap and ensures critical functions like compressions, airway, and timing are all covered simultaneously.

Question 6: Which of the following is a non-shockable cardiac arrest rhythm?

Pulseless electrical activity (PEA) (Correct answer)
Ventricular fibrillation
Both A and B
Pulseless ventricular tachycardia

Correct answer: Pulseless electrical activity (PEA)

PEA and asystole are non-shockable rhythms; treatment focuses on CPR and identifying reversible causes.

Question 7: During cardiac arrest, which heart rhythm is most commonly associated with sudden cardiac arrest in adults?

Sinus bradycardia
Ventricular fibrillation (VF) (Correct answer)
Pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
Asystole

Correct answer: Ventricular fibrillation (VF)

Ventricular fibrillation is the most common initial rhythm in sudden cardiac arrest in adults and is shockable.

Question 8: How soon after applying an AED should you analyze the rhythm if the device is ready?

Immediately upon attachment, pausing CPR only for analysis (Correct answer)
Immediately, before starting CPR
After 5 rescue breaths
After 2 minutes of CPR

Correct answer: Immediately upon attachment, pausing CPR only for analysis

Once the AED is attached, pause CPR only during rhythm analysis and shock delivery, then resume compressions immediately.

Question 9: A rescuer is performing high-quality CPR on an adult. Which finding indicates compressions are adequate?

Patient's color returns to normal
Capillary refill of 3 seconds
Visible chest rise with each compression
Chest recoils fully between compressions (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Chest recoils fully between compressions

Full chest recoil between compressions allows the heart to refill with blood, which is a key indicator of high-quality CPR.

Question 10: Chest compressions should be used as the first step in CPR if you DON'T DEFINITELY feel a pulse in the first ______ seconds.

5
15
20
10 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 10

According to BLS guidelines, a pulse check should not take longer than 10 seconds. If you do not definitely feel a pulse within this 10-second window, or if you are unsure, you should immediately begin chest compressions. Prompt initiation of CPR is vital for maintaining blood flow to the brain and other vital organs.

Question 11: Who plays a role in the first link of the Chain of Survival?

Hospital staff
Bystanders (Correct answer)
Paramedics
Emergency physicians

Correct answer: Bystanders

The first link of the Chain of Survival, 'Recognition and activation of emergency response,' primarily relies on bystanders. They are the first people on the scene to recognize that someone has collapsed and is in cardiac arrest. Their quick action in calling for help and initiating CPR is critical for the victim's survival, as every minute counts.

Question 12: Which component focuses on stabilization and transport to definitive care?

Early recognition
Post-cardiac arrest care
Early CPR
Advanced life support (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Advanced life support

Advanced Life Support (ALS) is the link in the Chain of Survival that involves highly trained medical professionals, such as paramedics, providing advanced interventions. This includes administering medications, advanced airway management, and stabilizing the patient for transport to a hospital. The goal is to provide comprehensive care and prepare the patient for definitive treatment.

Question 13: Which link comes immediately after early CPR in the Chain of Survival?

Advanced life support
Post-cardiac arrest care
Recognition of arrest
Rapid defibrillation (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Rapid defibrillation

In the adult Chain of Survival, rapid defibrillation immediately follows early CPR. While CPR circulates oxygenated blood to the brain and heart, it cannot correct the underlying electrical problem, such as ventricular fibrillation. Defibrillation is the definitive treatment to restore a normal heart rhythm, making its rapid application critical after CPR has been initiated.

Question 14: Why is early CPR important in the Chain of Survival?

It helps locate an AED
It delays brain death (Correct answer)
It starts the heart again
It eliminates the need for a defibrillator

Correct answer: It delays brain death

When the heart stops, blood flow to the brain ceases, and brain cells begin to die within minutes due to lack of oxygen. Early CPR, particularly chest compressions, circulates oxygenated blood to the brain and other vital organs. This delays brain death and keeps the heart muscle viable until defibrillation or advanced medical care can restore a normal heart rhythm.

Question 15: How many links are in the adult Chain of Survival?

Seven
Four
Five (Correct answer)
Six

Correct answer: Five

The adult Chain of Survival, as defined by organizations like the American Heart Association, consists of five critical links. These are: 1) Recognition and activation of emergency response, 2) Early CPR, 3) Rapid defibrillation, 4) Advanced life support, and 5) Post-cardiac arrest care. Each link is vital for improving outcomes and represents a sequential step in effective cardiac arrest management.

Question 16: Which technique is used to provide breaths using a bag-valve-mask (BVM)?

Double-hand tilt
Finger sweep
Cross-finger technique
E-C clamp technique (Correct answer)

Correct answer: E-C clamp technique

The E-C clamp technique is the standard method for holding a bag-valve-mask (BVM) to a patient's face while providing breaths. This technique involves using the thumb and index finger to form a 'C' shape around the mask for a tight seal, while the remaining three fingers form an 'E' shape to lift the jaw and maintain an open airway. This ensures effective ventilation and minimizes air leakage.

Question 17: What is the most common method used to open the airway of an unresponsive victim without suspected spinal injury?

Head tilt–chin lift (Correct answer)
Jaw thrust
Neck flexion
Chest thrust

Correct answer: Head tilt–chin lift

The head tilt–chin lift maneuver is the primary and most common technique used to open the airway of an unresponsive victim when there is no suspected spinal injury. This method effectively moves the tongue away from the back of the throat, which is a frequent cause of airway obstruction in unconscious individuals. It creates a clear passage for breathing.

Question 18: During two-rescuer CPR, when should the rescuer delivering ventilations switch to compressor?

Never — the roles are fixed throughout resuscitation
Every 2 cycles (about 1 minute)
Every 5 cycles (about 2 minutes) (Correct answer)
Only when the compressor becomes fatigued

Correct answer: Every 5 cycles (about 2 minutes)

Rescuers should switch roles approximately every 2 minutes (5 cycles of 30:2) to prevent compressor fatigue and maintain high-quality compressions.

Question 19: When performing a head-tilt chin-lift on an adult, where should you place your fingers to lift the chin?

On the bony part of the lower jaw (Correct answer)
On the soft tissue under the chin
On the upper lip
On the throat directly below the jaw

Correct answer: On the bony part of the lower jaw

Fingers should be placed on the bony part of the lower jaw to lift the chin without compressing the soft tissue, which could obstruct the airway.

Question 20: What is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio for a single rescuer performing adult CPR?

15:2
30:2 (Correct answer)
30:1
15:1

Correct answer: 30:2

For adult CPR with one or two rescuers, the recommended compression-to-ventilation ratio is 30:2.

Question 21: Which pulse is typically checked in an unresponsive adult during BLS?

Carotid (Correct answer)
Femoral
Brachial
Radial

Correct answer: Carotid

In an unresponsive adult, the carotid pulse is the most reliable and accessible pulse to check during BLS assessment. It is located in the neck, alongside the trachea. Checking for a carotid pulse helps determine if the heart is still circulating blood, guiding the decision to start or continue CPR.

Question 22: A rescuer performing CPR hears a 'crack' during chest compressions. What should the rescuer do?

Stop CPR immediately and wait for EMS
Reposition the hands and continue CPR (Correct answer)
Switch to compression-only CPR
Reduce compression depth to 1 inch

Correct answer: Reposition the hands and continue CPR

Rib fractures can occur during CPR but do not outweigh the benefit; the rescuer should recheck hand position and continue effective compressions.

Question 23: In a healthcare setting, what should be done if a patient has a 'Do Not Resuscitate' (DNR) order and goes into cardiac arrest?

Begin CPR and contact the physician immediately
Apply an AED but do not perform compressions
Begin CPR until the order can be verified
Withhold resuscitation efforts and provide comfort care (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Withhold resuscitation efforts and provide comfort care

A valid DNR order directs healthcare providers to withhold resuscitation efforts; comfort measures should be provided instead.

Question 24: For a child victim (ages 1 year to puberty) in cardiac arrest with two rescuers present, what is the compression-to-ventilation ratio?

15:1
15:2 (Correct answer)
5:1
30:2

Correct answer: 15:2

Two rescuers performing CPR on a child use a 15:2 ratio, which allows more frequent ventilations appropriate for pediatric victims.

Question 25: What is the correct head-tilt chin-lift technique used for?

Positioning the patient for defibrillation
Stabilizing a suspected spinal injury
Opening the airway by moving the tongue away from the throat (Correct answer)
Delivering mouth-to-mouth ventilations more forcefully

Correct answer: Opening the airway by moving the tongue away from the throat

Head-tilt chin-lift opens the airway by extending the neck and lifting the chin, which moves the tongue away from the back of the throat.

BLS Practice Test: Video 1 Answers (25 Questions)

Which behavior MOST disrupts effective team dynamics during cardiac arrest?

What Practice Test Geeks adds beyond an AI chat for BLS

An AI chatbot can quiz you, but it can't reproduce the exam conditions or keep your record. Here you get:

A timed, full-length BLS mock exam — 25 questions in 60 minutes with a 84% pass mark, modeled on the official exam's question count and time limit, followed by a score report broken down by exam domain.
A fixed BLS question bank: the same test every attempt, so your score is comparable from one try to the next instead of changing with every regenerated quiz.
Progress saved on your device: completed tests, scores and missed questions stay in My Progress, so you can retake only what you got wrong.
A printable BLS cheat sheet you can print or save as a PDF.
BLS flashcards built from the same question bank.

Start the Timed BLS Mock Exam →

These practice questions were written with AI tools. They are not real exam questions. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

Exam facts on this page (fees, format, dates, passing scores) are checked against these official sources; the date is our last check. Editorial policy

cpr.heart.org — Test delivery, fees, renewal, score validity, exam format, passing score, retake policy, time limit, exam information · verified Nov 2026
redcross.org — Renewal, fees, score validity, test delivery · verified Nov 2026