CPR Cardiopulmonary Emergency Recognition 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You witness an adult suddenly collapse. The most important early link in the Chain of Survival is:
- Advanced hospital care
- Immediate recognition and activation of emergency response (calling 911) (Correct answer)
- Post-cardiac-arrest care
- Transport to a specialty center
Correct answer: Immediate recognition and activation of emergency response (calling 911)
Recognizing arrest and activating emergency response is the first link in the adult Chain of Survival.
Question 2: An adult is found unresponsive and not breathing. You are alone with a phone. What should you do?
- Leave to find help and return later
- Phone 911 (use speaker mode) and start CPR right away (Correct answer)
- Perform CPR for 5 minutes before calling
- Wait to see if the person recovers
Correct answer: Phone 911 (use speaker mode) and start CPR right away
Call 911 using speaker mode so you can start CPR immediately without leaving the victim.
Question 3: Which group of symptoms should make you suspect a stroke rather than a cardiac emergency?
- Crushing chest pressure and arm pain
- Facial droop, arm weakness, and slurred speech (Correct answer)
- Gasping and no pulse
- Sweating and nausea with chest tightness
Correct answer: Facial droop, arm weakness, and slurred speech
Facial droop, arm weakness, and speech difficulty (the FAST signs) point to a stroke.
Question 4: A person is conscious but suddenly grabs their throat and cannot speak, cough, or breathe. This is a sign of:
- A mild airway obstruction
- A severe airway obstruction requiring abdominal thrusts (Correct answer)
- Cardiac arrest
- A panic attack
Correct answer: A severe airway obstruction requiring abdominal thrusts
Inability to speak, cough, or breathe indicates a severe (complete) airway obstruction needing immediate intervention.
Question 5: When assessing breathing in an unresponsive adult, how long should you look for normal breathing?
- At least 1 minute
- No more than about 10 seconds, done at the same time as the pulse check (Correct answer)
- 30 seconds
- Until the person breathes
Correct answer: No more than about 10 seconds, done at the same time as the pulse check
Breathing and pulse should be assessed simultaneously in no more than 10 seconds.
Question 6: A diabetic person becomes confused, sweaty, and shaky but remains conscious and able to swallow. The best immediate response is:
- Begin chest compressions
- Give a fast-acting sugar source and monitor (Correct answer)
- Place them flat and give rescue breaths
- Apply an AED
Correct answer: Give a fast-acting sugar source and monitor
These are signs of low blood sugar, and a conscious person who can swallow should be given sugar.
Question 7: Which statement about recognizing cardiac arrest in adults is TRUE?
- A person in cardiac arrest always has obvious chest movement
- Unresponsiveness with absent or abnormal (gasping) breathing indicates cardiac arrest (Correct answer)
- You must confirm with an ECG before acting
- Cardiac arrest only happens in older adults
Correct answer: Unresponsiveness with absent or abnormal (gasping) breathing indicates cardiac arrest
Unresponsiveness combined with absent or gasping breathing is the practical sign of cardiac arrest.
CPR Cardiopulmonary Emergency Recognition 3
You witness an adult suddenly collapse.
The most important early link in the Chain of Survival is: