SDPD First Aid and Emergency Medical Response 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When performing CPR on an adult victim, what is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio?
- 15 compressions to 2 breaths
- 30 compressions to 2 breaths (Correct answer)
- 20 compressions to 1 breath
- 10 compressions to 1 breath
Correct answer: 30 compressions to 2 breaths
Current AHA guidelines specify 30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths for adult CPR.
Question 2: An officer arrives on scene and finds an unconscious adult who is not breathing normally. After calling for EMS, what is the immediate next step?
- Check for a pulse for at least 30 seconds
- Begin chest compressions (Correct answer)
- Administer naloxone if available
- Place the victim in the recovery position
Correct answer: Begin chest compressions
After confirming unresponsiveness and calling EMS, the immediate next step is to begin chest compressions to maintain circulation.
Question 3: What is the correct hand placement for performing chest compressions on an adult?
- Center of the chest on the lower half of the sternum (Correct answer)
- Just below the xiphoid process
- Upper left chest over the heart
- Two fingers above the navel
Correct answer: Center of the chest on the lower half of the sternum
Compressions should be delivered to the center of the chest on the lower half of the sternum to effectively compress the heart.
Question 4: An officer encounters a subject with a severe arterial bleed from the thigh. What is the preferred initial intervention?
- Elevate the leg and apply pressure
- Apply a tourniquet 2–3 inches above the wound (Correct answer)
- Pack the wound with gauze and apply direct pressure
- Apply ice to reduce blood flow
Correct answer: Apply a tourniquet 2–3 inches above the wound
For severe arterial bleeding on a limb, a tourniquet applied 2–3 inches above the wound is the preferred life-saving intervention.
Question 5: What does the acronym 'AVPU' stand for in patient assessment?
- Airway, Ventilation, Pulse, Understanding
- Alert, Verbal, Pain, Unresponsive (Correct answer)
- Assess, Vital signs, Position, Urgency
- Airway, Volume, Perfusion, Unconscious
Correct answer: Alert, Verbal, Pain, Unresponsive
AVPU is a rapid level-of-consciousness scale: Alert, responds to Verbal stimuli, responds to Pain stimuli, or Unresponsive.
Question 6: When treating a victim for shock, which position is generally recommended if no spinal injury is suspected?
- Seated upright at 90 degrees
- Prone with head turned to the side
- Supine with legs elevated approximately 12 inches (Correct answer)
- Left lateral recovery position
Correct answer: Supine with legs elevated approximately 12 inches
Elevating the legs of a shock victim (Trendelenburg-modified position) helps return blood to the core organs, provided no spinal injury is suspected.
Question 7: An officer uses a departmental AED on a cardiac arrest victim. After the AED delivers a shock, what should the officer do immediately?
- Check for a pulse for 60 seconds before resuming CPR
- Resume chest compressions immediately (Correct answer)
- Deliver two rescue breaths before resuming compressions
- Wait for the AED to re-analyze before touching the patient
Correct answer: Resume chest compressions immediately
Current guidelines direct rescuers to resume CPR immediately after AED shock delivery rather than pausing to check for a pulse.
SDPD First Aid and Emergency Medical Response 1
When performing CPR on an adult victim, what is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio?