First Aid CPR and AED Procedures 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You witness a person collapse in a crowded mall. What is the FIRST step after confirming the scene is safe?
- Begin chest compressions immediately
- Tap shoulders and shout to check responsiveness (Correct answer)
- Send a bystander to find an AED
- Open the airway and look for breathing
Correct answer: Tap shoulders and shout to check responsiveness
After ensuring scene safety, check responsiveness by tapping the victim's shoulders and shouting.
Question 2: What is 'agonal breathing' and how should it affect your CPR decision?
- Normal breathing — do not start CPR
- Gasping or infrequent breaths — treat as no breathing and start CPR (Correct answer)
- Deep, regular breaths — place victim in recovery position
- Rapid shallow breaths — begin rescue breathing only
Correct answer: Gasping or infrequent breaths — treat as no breathing and start CPR
Agonal breathing is gasping or irregular breaths after cardiac arrest; it is not normal breathing, so CPR should be started immediately.
Question 3: For two-rescuer infant CPR, which compression technique is preferred?
- Two-finger technique below the nipple line
- Heel-of-hand technique
- Two-thumb encircling technique (Correct answer)
- Full-hand compression technique
Correct answer: Two-thumb encircling technique
With two rescuers, the two-thumb encircling technique provides better compression depth and consistency for infants.
Question 4: A victim in cardiac arrest has a hairy chest. How should you handle this before applying AED pads?
- Press pads firmly and proceed; hair does not matter
- Shave the chest area quickly using a razor from the AED kit if available (Correct answer)
- Use extra gel to improve contact
- Use only back pads to avoid the hairy surface
Correct answer: Shave the chest area quickly using a razor from the AED kit if available
Excessive chest hair can prevent pad adhesion and reduce shock effectiveness; shave the area if a razor is included in the AED kit.
Question 5: After successful resuscitation, a victim begins breathing normally. What position should they be placed in?
- Flat on their back with legs elevated
- Recovery position (on their side) (Correct answer)
- Sitting upright at 90 degrees
- Prone position face-down
Correct answer: Recovery position (on their side)
Place the victim in the recovery position (lateral recumbent) to keep the airway open and prevent aspiration if vomiting occurs.
Question 6: A child victim is 8 years old and a pediatric-dose key for the AED is unavailable. What should you do?
- Do not use the AED until pediatric supplies arrive
- Use the AED with adult settings (Correct answer)
- Deliver manual CPR only
- Use the AED with half the normal energy setting
Correct answer: Use the AED with adult settings
For children 8 and older, use the AED with standard adult settings if pediatric attenuators are unavailable.
Question 7: When giving rescue breaths during CPR, each breath should be delivered over approximately how long?
- Less than 0.5 seconds
- 1 second (Correct answer)
- 2–3 seconds
- 3–5 seconds
Correct answer: 1 second
Each rescue breath should be delivered over 1 second with enough volume to cause visible chest rise.
First Aid CPR and AED Procedures 5
You witness a person collapse in a crowded mall.
What is the FIRST step after confirming the scene is safe?