PEARS Child and Infant BLS 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When performing CPR on an infant, what is the correct hand position for chest compressions?
- Two fingers on the center of the chest just below the nipple line
- Heel of one hand on the lower half of the sternum
- Both thumbs side by side on the center of the chest with hands encircling the torso (Correct answer)
- Index and middle fingers on the upper sternum
Correct answer: Both thumbs side by side on the center of the chest with hands encircling the torso
The two-thumb encircling technique is preferred for infant CPR as it generates better coronary perfusion pressure.
Question 2: A child is found unresponsive and not breathing. You are alone. What is the correct sequence of actions?
- Call 911 immediately before starting CPR
- Perform 2 minutes of CPR before calling 911
- Begin CPR immediately while someone else calls 911, or after 2 minutes if alone (Correct answer)
- Give 5 rescue breaths before calling 911
Correct answer: Begin CPR immediately while someone else calls 911, or after 2 minutes if alone
For pediatric cardiac arrest, perform 2 minutes of CPR before leaving to call 911 if you are alone, since the most common cause is respiratory failure.
Question 3: What is the recommended compression-to-ventilation ratio when two rescuers are performing CPR on a child?
- 30:2
- 15:2 (Correct answer)
- 15:1
- 30:1
Correct answer: 15:2
Two-rescuer CPR for children uses a 15:2 ratio to provide more frequent ventilations given the respiratory cause of most pediatric arrests.
Question 4: During infant BLS, how deep should chest compressions be?
- At least 1 inch (2.5 cm)
- At least 1.5 inches (4 cm) (Correct answer)
- At least 2 inches (5 cm)
- At least 2.5 inches (6 cm)
Correct answer: At least 1.5 inches (4 cm)
Infant chest compressions should be at least 1.5 inches (approximately one-third the anteroposterior diameter of the chest).
Question 5: A 3-year-old has a pulse of 40 bpm and is unresponsive and apneic. What is the next action?
- Begin chest compressions immediately at 30:2
- Give rescue breaths and reassess in 2 minutes
- Start CPR with compressions and breaths (Correct answer)
- Apply an AED as soon as possible
Correct answer: Start CPR with compressions and breaths
A severely bradycardic, apneic, unresponsive child requires immediate CPR including both compressions and ventilations.
Question 6: When delivering rescue breaths to an infant, what is the correct technique?
- Mouth-to-mouth only with head tilt-chin lift
- Mouth-to-nose only to avoid overinflation
- Mouth-to-mouth-and-nose with just enough air to make the chest rise (Correct answer)
- Mouth-to-mouth with full adult tidal volume breaths
Correct answer: Mouth-to-mouth-and-nose with just enough air to make the chest rise
For infants, cover both the mouth and nose with your mouth and give small puffs just sufficient to see chest rise.
Question 7: What finding indicates that your rescue breath was effective during infant CPR?
- The infant coughs
- Visible chest rise (Correct answer)
- Resistance felt when blowing
- The infant's color improves immediately
Correct answer: Visible chest rise
Visible chest rise is the primary indicator that a rescue breath was delivered effectively and the airway is patent.
PEARS Child and Infant BLS 2
When performing CPR on an infant, what is the correct hand position for chest compressions?