CPR CPR for Special Situations 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the recommended response to an infant who is choking and showing signs of complete airway obstruction?
- Abdominal thrusts (Heimlich)
- Alternating 5 back slaps and 5 chest thrusts (Correct answer)
- Finger sweeps and back blows
- Immediate CPR
Correct answer: Alternating 5 back slaps and 5 chest thrusts
For a choking infant, alternate 5 back slaps with 5 chest thrusts — abdominal thrusts are not used in infants because they can damage abdominal organs.
Question 2: What CPR modifications are recommended for victims of electrical injury?
- Avoid using an AED
- Ensure scene safety first, then provide standard CPR — electrical injury victims are particularly responsive to early defibrillation (Correct answer)
- Use higher compression rate
- Avoid rescue breaths
Correct answer: Ensure scene safety first, then provide standard CPR — electrical injury victims are particularly responsive to early defibrillation
For electrical injury, ensure the scene is safe and the power source is off before approaching, then provide standard CPR and early defibrillation — VF is common after electrical shock.
Question 3: How is CPR performed on a victim with a stoma (tracheal opening in the neck)?
- Mouth-to-mouth as normal
- Give rescue breaths into the stoma instead of the mouth (Correct answer)
- Skip rescue breaths entirely
- Use a bag-mask over the mouth only
Correct answer: Give rescue breaths into the stoma instead of the mouth
For a victim with a stoma, rescue breaths are delivered directly into the stoma opening since it is the airway — a standard mask can be placed over the stoma.
Question 4: During CPR in a hospital setting, what role does a team leader play?
- Performs all compressions personally
- Coordinates the resuscitation team, assigns roles, monitors quality, and communicates decisions (Correct answer)
- Operates the AED only
- Handles documentation while others do CPR
Correct answer: Coordinates the resuscitation team, assigns roles, monitors quality, and communicates decisions
The team leader in a hospital resuscitation directs the team, assigns specific roles (compressor, airway, IV access, recorder, medication), monitors CPR quality, and makes key clinical decisions.
Question 5: What is 'closed-loop communication' in a resuscitation team?
- Speaking only in medical jargon
- Confirming receipt of an order by repeating it back to the sender and reporting completion (Correct answer)
- Using radios to communicate
- Avoiding verbal communication to prevent confusion
Correct answer: Confirming receipt of an order by repeating it back to the sender and reporting completion
Closed-loop communication means the receiver of an order repeats it back to confirm understanding, then reports back when the task is completed, preventing errors during high-stress resuscitation.
Question 6: What is the appropriate action when performing CPR on a trauma victim with suspected tension pneumothorax?
- Increase compression rate
- Continue CPR and call for needle decompression as a reversible cause of cardiac arrest (Correct answer)
- Avoid chest compressions to prevent further lung damage
- Apply AED immediately
Correct answer: Continue CPR and call for needle decompression as a reversible cause of cardiac arrest
Tension pneumothorax is a reversible cause of cardiac arrest (the 'H's and T's'); CPR should continue while needle decompression is performed to treat the underlying cause.
CPR CPR for Special Situations 2
What is the recommended response to an infant who is choking and showing signs of complete airway obstruction?