BLS Recognition of Cardiac Arrest 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A gym member collapses suddenly. A bystander says they saw him 'go down hard' while lifting weights. The MOST likely cause of his cardiac arrest is:
- Pulmonary embolism
- Stroke
- Sudden cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation (Correct answer)
- Hypoglycemia
Correct answer: Sudden cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation
Sudden collapse during exertion in an adult is most commonly caused by sudden cardiac arrest, often triggered by ventricular fibrillation related to underlying coronary artery disease or structural heart disease.
Question 2: Which term describes the chain of events that maximizes survival from cardiac arrest?
- Rapid Response Protocol
- Chain of Survival (Correct answer)
- Emergency Cardiac Sequence
- BLS Algorithm
Correct answer: Chain of Survival
The Chain of Survival outlines the sequential steps — recognition, activation, CPR, defibrillation, advanced care, and recovery — that together maximize cardiac arrest survival.
Question 3: A patient in a hospital bed suddenly becomes unresponsive. The nurse checks for breathing and pulse simultaneously for up to 10 seconds. This combined check is recommended because:
- It is faster and reduces time to first compression (Correct answer)
- Pulse checks are unreliable and breathing checks are mandatory
- Hospital policy requires both checks at once
- It helps distinguish cardiac arrest from respiratory arrest
Correct answer: It is faster and reduces time to first compression
Simultaneously checking breathing and pulse minimizes the time to recognize cardiac arrest and start CPR, as sequential checks would unnecessarily delay interventions.
Question 4: Which of these is NOT a recognized warning sign that may precede sudden cardiac arrest?
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Syncope or near-fainting
- Sudden onset of productive cough (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Sudden onset of productive cough
A productive cough is associated with respiratory illness, not with impending cardiac arrest; the other options are recognized pre-arrest warning signs.
Question 5: After recognizing cardiac arrest in an adult, what is the recommended ratio of compressions to ventilations for a two-rescuer BLS team?
- 15:2
- 30:2 (Correct answer)
- 15:1
- 30:1
Correct answer: 30:2
The standard BLS compression-to-ventilation ratio for adult cardiac arrest (with or without an advanced airway) is 30:2 for a two-rescuer team without an advanced airway.
Question 6: A teenage athlete collapses on the field during a game and is unresponsive with no normal breathing. What condition specific to young athletes should immediately come to mind?
- Heat exhaustion
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy causing sudden cardiac arrest (Correct answer)
- Exercise-induced asthma
- Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance
Correct answer: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy causing sudden cardiac arrest
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is the most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest in young athletes and should be suspected with sudden unresponsive collapse during exercise.
Question 7: When assessing an unresponsive adult for cardiac arrest, which action should occur within the FIRST 10 seconds?
- Attach the AED and analyze rhythm
- Simultaneously check breathing and carotid pulse (Correct answer)
- Deliver 2 rescue breaths to open the airway
- Position the victim on a backboard
Correct answer: Simultaneously check breathing and carotid pulse
AHA guidelines call for a simultaneous check of breathing and carotid pulse completed within 10 seconds to confirm cardiac arrest and initiate CPR without delay.
BLS Recognition of Cardiac Arrest 4
A gym member collapses suddenly.
A bystander says they saw him 'go down hard' while lifting weights.
The MOST likely cause of his cardiac arrest is: