BLS Recognition of Cardiac Arrest 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You witness a man collapse and suspect cardiac arrest. You are alone with your phone. In what ORDER should you act?
- Shout for help, call 911, start CPR (Correct answer)
- Start CPR, then call 911 after 2 minutes
- Call 911, then do nothing until EMS arrives
- Check pulse for 30 seconds, then call 911
Correct 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.
Question 2: A patient is found unresponsive with slow, gurgling breaths about every 10 seconds. How should you categorize this breathing?
- Normal — monitor and do not intervene
- Adequate — give supplemental oxygen only
- Abnormal — treat as cardiac arrest (Correct answer)
- Abnormal — perform rescue breathing without compressions
Correct 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.
Question 3: Which pulse site is preferred when checking for a pulse in an unresponsive infant?
- Carotid artery
- Radial artery
- Brachial artery (Correct answer)
- Femoral artery
Correct 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.
Question 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?
- Wait for the AED before starting any interventions
- Begin chest compressions immediately
- Move the victim to a flat surface, then call for the AED (Correct answer)
- Attempt rescue breathing first
Correct 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.
Question 5: Which statement about ventricular fibrillation (VF) as a cause of cardiac arrest is CORRECT?
- VF produces a rapid but organized heartbeat
- VF is the most common initial rhythm in sudden adult cardiac arrest (Correct answer)
- VF cannot be treated with an AED
- VF always occurs after a period of respiratory arrest
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.
Question 6: How does early defibrillation affect survival from cardiac arrest caused by ventricular fibrillation?
- It has no proven benefit if CPR has already been started
- Every minute of delay reduces survival by approximately 7–10% (Correct answer)
- It is only beneficial within the first 60 seconds of arrest
- Survival rates are not affected by defibrillation timing
Correct 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.
Question 7: A victim is found unresponsive and you are not sure if they have a pulse. According to BLS guidelines, you should:
- Wait until you are certain before starting CPR
- Start CPR — the risk of unnecessary CPR is lower than the risk of delayed CPR (Correct answer)
- Give only rescue breaths until EMS arrives
- Perform the jaw thrust to open airway and reassess
Correct 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.
BLS Recognition of Cardiac Arrest 3
You witness a man collapse and suspect cardiac arrest.
You are alone with your phone.
In what ORDER should you act?