BLS Recognition of Cardiac Arrest 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A 70-year-old woman is found unresponsive on the floor. She is breathing in slow, irregular gasps every 8–10 seconds. What action should you take?
- Monitor her closely — irregular breathing means she has a pulse
- Begin CPR — agonal breathing is not considered normal breathing (Correct answer)
- Give rescue breaths only, at 1 breath every 5 seconds
- Place her in the recovery position and call 911
Correct answer: Begin CPR — agonal breathing is not considered normal breathing
Agonal (gasping) respirations are a sign of cardiac arrest, not normal breathing; CPR should be initiated immediately.
Question 2: Which statement BEST explains why bystander CPR improves cardiac arrest outcomes?
- It restores normal heart rhythm before EMS arrives
- It maintains minimal blood flow to the brain and heart, buying time until defibrillation (Correct answer)
- It eliminates the need for defibrillation in most cases
- It prevents the onset of ventricular fibrillation
Correct answer: It maintains minimal blood flow to the brain and heart, buying time until defibrillation
Bystander CPR maintains perfusion to vital organs, slowing brain death and preserving the heart's ability to respond to defibrillation until EMS arrives.
Question 3: A dispatcher is coaching a bystander over the phone in a suspected cardiac arrest. The bystander says the victim is making gurgling sounds. The dispatcher should advise:
- Do not start CPR — gurgling means the airway is partially open
- Place the victim on their side to clear the airway
- Begin chest compressions — gurgling sounds can be agonal breathing (Correct answer)
- Perform abdominal thrusts to clear an airway obstruction
Correct answer: Begin chest compressions — gurgling sounds can be agonal breathing
Gurgling sounds may represent agonal breathing associated with cardiac arrest; the dispatcher should instruct bystanders to begin chest compressions.
Question 4: In the in-hospital setting, which team member should ideally be checking for cardiac arrest signs while another prepares the crash cart?
- The most senior physician present
- Any team member who first reaches the patient (Correct answer)
- Only the charge nurse
- Only an AED-certified staff member
Correct answer: Any team member who first reaches the patient
In team-based resuscitation, whoever reaches the patient first should begin the assessment for cardiac arrest while others prepare equipment simultaneously.
Question 5: What is the primary purpose of the initial scene size-up before approaching a cardiac arrest victim?
- To determine whether CPR will be successful
- To ensure rescuer safety and identify the mechanism of collapse (Correct answer)
- To locate the nearest AED before touching the victim
- To document the time of collapse for legal purposes
Correct answer: To ensure rescuer safety and identify the mechanism of collapse
Scene size-up ensures the rescuer's safety (e.g., no electrical hazards, no violence) and helps identify the likely cause of collapse, guiding the response.
Question 6: After successful resuscitation, a patient regains a pulse. EMS transfers care to the hospital. This transition represents which link in the Chain of Survival?
- Early recognition and activation
- Early defibrillation
- Advanced resuscitation and post-cardiac arrest care (Correct answer)
- Early high-quality CPR
Correct answer: Advanced resuscitation and post-cardiac arrest care
Advanced resuscitation and post-cardiac arrest care is the link that occurs when the patient reaches a hospital capable of providing targeted temperature management and definitive treatment.
Question 7: Which of the following patients should NOT receive CPR according to BLS guidelines?
- A victim found pulseless after drowning
- A victim with a valid Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order (Correct answer)
- A victim whose cardiac arrest was witnessed 4 minutes ago
- A victim in ventricular fibrillation with no bystander CPR started
Correct answer: A victim with a valid Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order
A valid DNR order is a legally recognized directive that CPR should not be initiated; all other scenarios warrant CPR unless clear signs of irreversible death are present.
BLS Recognition of Cardiac Arrest 5
A 70-year-old woman is found unresponsive on the floor.
She is breathing in slow, irregular gasps every 8–10 seconds.
What action should you take?