Recognizing Cardiac Arrest: What to Check First

Before any compression happens, you need to correctly recognize that cardiac arrest has occurred — this lesson walks through checking responsiveness, normal versus agonal breathing, and the critical mistake of confusing gasping for breathing. We cover why this misjudgment is one of the most common reasons bystanders delay starting CPR, and how to make the call quickly and confidently.

You'll also learn the correct sequence for calling for help and requesting an AED, including how this differs slightly between single-rescuer and multi-rescuer scenarios, which is a frequent exam distinction.

CPR Fundamentals and When to Act

Recognizing Cardiac Arrest: What to Check First The Chain of Survival Explained Scene Safety and Universal Precautions

Compression Technique and Ratios

Adult Compression Depth, Rate, and Hand Placement Child and Infant Compression Differences Compressor Fatigue and Rotation Timing Common Compression Mistakes Exams Test

AED Operation

Powering On and Pad Placement Rhythm Analysis and Shock Delivery Pediatric AED Use

Rescue Breaths and Airway Management

Opening the Airway: Head-Tilt vs. Jaw-Thrust Bag-Valve-Mask Basics Choking and Airway Obstruction Response

Team Dynamics and High-Performance CPR

Roles in a Multi-Rescuer Resuscitation Minimizing Interruptions to Compressions

From BLS to ACLS: The Bigger Picture

How ACLS Builds on BLS Fundamentals Post-Cardiac Arrest Care Basics