CPR Assessment & Recognition of Cardiac Arrest 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When checking the scene before approaching a collapsed victim, what is the primary concern?
- The victim's medical history
- Rescuer and victim safety from hazards (Correct answer)
- Finding witnesses
- Locating the nearest hospital
Correct answer: Rescuer and victim safety from hazards
Scene safety ensures the rescuer does not become an additional victim before providing care.
Question 2: A bystander reports an adult 'just collapsed and isn't moving.' On arrival the person is unresponsive and not breathing. This is most consistent with what type of arrest?
- Respiratory arrest only
- Sudden cardiac arrest (Correct answer)
- Simple fainting
- Seizure with recovery
Correct answer: Sudden cardiac arrest
Sudden collapse with unresponsiveness and no breathing strongly suggests sudden cardiac arrest.
Question 3: Why is checking for a pulse de-emphasized for untrained lay rescuers?
- Pulses are never present in arrest
- Pulse checks are unreliable and waste time (Correct answer)
- It is illegal for laypeople
- It always restarts the heart
Correct answer: Pulse checks are unreliable and waste time
Lay rescuers often cannot accurately detect a pulse, so they should start CPR based on unresponsiveness and abnormal breathing.
Question 4: An adult is unresponsive but breathing normally with a pulse. What is the appropriate action?
- Begin chest compressions
- Place in recovery position and monitor (Correct answer)
- Apply an AED and shock
- Give rescue breaths only
Correct answer: Place in recovery position and monitor
A breathing, pulsing but unresponsive person should be placed in the recovery position and monitored, not given CPR.
Question 5: How does recognition of cardiac arrest differ in a child compared to an adult?
- Children rarely need recognition
- Pediatric arrest is more often due to respiratory causes (Correct answer)
- Children never show agonal gasps
- Pulse checks are unnecessary in children
Correct answer: Pediatric arrest is more often due to respiratory causes
Pediatric cardiac arrest is frequently caused by respiratory or airway problems rather than primary heart issues.
Question 6: What does 'no normal breathing or only gasping' indicate during your assessment?
- The victim is sleeping
- Adequate oxygenation
- Cardiac arrest requiring CPR (Correct answer)
- Choking on a foreign body
Correct answer: Cardiac arrest requiring CPR
Absent or gasping breathing during assessment confirms cardiac arrest and the need to start CPR.
Question 7: After confirming arrest in a public place, what should you direct a bystander to do?
- Find the victim's wallet
- Call 911 and bring an AED (Correct answer)
- Move the victim to a chair
- Give the victim water
Correct answer: Call 911 and bring an AED
Delegating a bystander to call 911 and retrieve an AED speeds the chain of survival.
CPR Assessment & Recognition of Cardiac Arrest 3
When checking the scene before approaching a collapsed victim, what is the primary concern?