PEARS - Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition, and Stabilization Child and Infant BLS Questions and Answers 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A lone healthcare provider finds an 8-month-old infant is unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless. After shouting for help and activating the emergency response system, what is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio the provider should use?
- 15 compressions to 2 breaths
- 15 compressions to 1 breath
- 30 compressions to 2 breaths (Correct answer)
- 30 compressions to 1 breath
Correct answer: 30 compressions to 2 breaths
According to the American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines, a single rescuer performing CPR on an infant or child should use a compression-to-ventilation ratio of 30:2. The 15:2 ratio is reserved for two-rescuer CPR for infants and children.
Question 2: When performing high-quality chest compressions on a 6-month-old infant, what is the recommended compression depth?
- Approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm)
- At least 2 inches (5 cm)
- Approximately 1.5 inches (4 cm) (Correct answer)
- At least 2.4 inches (6 cm)
Correct answer: Approximately 1.5 inches (4 cm)
The recommended depth for chest compressions in an infant is approximately 1.5 inches (4 cm), which is about one-third the anterior-posterior diameter of the chest. A depth of 2 inches is recommended for children, not infants.
Question 3: You are assessing an unresponsive 9-month-old. Which of the following is the correct anatomical site to check for a pulse in this patient?
- Carotid artery
- Brachial artery (Correct answer)
- Radial artery
- Femoral artery
Correct answer: Brachial artery
For an infant (less than 1 year of age), the pulse should be checked at the brachial artery, located on the inside of the upper arm between the elbow and shoulder. The carotid artery can be difficult to palpate on an infant due to their short, thick necks, and the radial pulse can be weak and difficult to find.
Question 4: A 4-year-old child is found to be unresponsive with a palpable carotid pulse of 75/min but is not breathing. What is the most appropriate immediate intervention?
- Begin chest compressions at a rate of 100-120/min.
- Provide rescue breaths at a rate of 1 breath every 6 seconds.
- Attach an AED and wait for rhythm analysis.
- Provide rescue breaths at a rate of 1 breath every 2-3 seconds. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Provide rescue breaths at a rate of 1 breath every 2-3 seconds.
For a child with a palpable pulse (≥60/min) but inadequate or absent breathing, the correct intervention is to provide rescue breaths. The AHA guideline rate for pediatric rescue breathing is 1 breath every 2-3 seconds (20-30 breaths per minute). Chest compressions are not indicated as the pulse is adequate, and the adult rescue breathing rate (1 every 6 seconds) is too slow.
Question 5: You are a single provider who witnesses the sudden collapse of a 7-year-old child. After confirming the scene is safe and the child is unresponsive, you shout for help. What is the very next action you should take?
- Leave the child to find an AED.
- Perform a blind finger sweep of the mouth.
- Begin chest compressions immediately.
- Check for breathing and a pulse simultaneously. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Check for breathing and a pulse simultaneously.
The BLS algorithm for a single provider who witnesses a sudden collapse is to first ensure safety, check responsiveness, and shout for help. The next immediate step is to simultaneously assess for breathing (or gasping) and check for a pulse for no more than 10 seconds. This assessment determines whether CPR or rescue breathing is needed. If no one responds to the shout for help, the provider should activate the emergency response system (e.g., call 911 on a mobile device) before starting CPR.
Question 6: Which of the following describes the correct hand placement for performing chest compressions on a 6-year-old child?
- Two fingers in the center of the chest, just below the nipple line.
- The heel of one or two hands on the upper half of the sternum.
- The heel of one or two hands on the lower half of the sternum. (Correct answer)
- The two-thumb-encircling hands technique around the chest.
Correct answer: The heel of one or two hands on the lower half of the sternum.
For a child (from age 1 to puberty), chest compressions are performed using the heel of one or two hands placed on the lower half of the sternum (breastbone). The two-finger and two-thumb techniques are used for infants.
PEARS - Pediatric Emergency Assessment, Recognition, and Stabilization Child and Infant BLS Questions and Answers 1
A lone healthcare provider finds an 8-month-old infant is unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless.
After shouting for help and activating the emergency response system, what is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio the provider should use?