MCQ for BLS

• First 10 slides contains 10 MCQs

• Next 10 slides contain the correct answers to
these MCQs with explanations
 Q1
The compression to ventilation ratio for the lone
rescuer giving CPR to victims of ANY age is
a) 15:2

b) 30:2

c) 30:1

d) 10:1
 Q2
• The 2010 AHA Guidelines for CPR recommended
BLS sequence of steps are:

a) Airway, Breathing, Chest Compressions

b) Airway, Breathing, Check Pulse

c) Chest compressions, Airway, Breathing

d) None of the above

 Q3
Signs of airway obstruction include which of the
following?

a) High-pitched noise while inhaling

b) Inability to speak

c) Poor air exchange

d) All of the above

 Q4
The initial Basic Life Support (BLS) steps for adults are:

a) Check pulse, give rescue breaths, assess the victim, defibrillate

b) Assess the victim, activate EMS and get AED, check pulse, start
CPR

c) Assess the victim, give 2 rescue breaths, defibrillate, start CPR

d) Assess the victim, start CPR, give 2 rescue breaths, defibrillate

 Q5
The critical characteristics of high-quality CPR include
which of the following?

a) Minimize interruptions

b) Starting chest compressions within 10 seconds of

recognition of cardiac arrest

c) Push hard and fast

d) All of the above

 Q6
The proper steps for operating an AED are:

a) Power on the AED, attach electrode pads, shock the patient, analyze
the rhythm

b) Check pulse, attach electrode pads, analyze rhythm, shock patient

c) Attach electrode pads, check pulse, shock patient, analyze rhythm

d) Power on the AED, attach electode pads, analyze the rhythm, clear
the patient, deliver shock
 Q7
Where should you attempt to perform a pulse
check in a child from 1 year of age to puberty?
a) Carotid or Femoral artery
b) Brachial artery
c) Temporal artery
d) Ulnar artery
 Q8
How often should rescuers switch roles when
performing 2-rescuer CPR?

a) After every 2 cycles of CPR

b) After every 5 cycles of CPR

c) After every 10 cycles of CPR

d) After every cycle of CPR

 Q9
The 5 links in the adult Chain of Survival include all
of the following EXCEPT:

• Early CPR

• Advanced airway placement

• Rapid Defibrillation

• Integrated Post-Cardiac Arrest Care

 Q10
In an adult with an advanced airway in place during 2-
rescuer CPR, breaths should be administered how often?

a) Every 6 to 8 seconds ( 8 to 10 breaths per minute)

b) Every 2 to 3 seconds ( 20 to 30 breaths per minute)

c) Every 10 to 12 seconds ( 5 to 6 breaths per minute)

d) Every 4 to 5 seconds ( 12 to 15 breaths per minute)

Key answer with explanation
 Q1
The compression to ventilation ratio for the lone
rescuer giving CPR to victims of ANY age is
a) 15:2

b) 30:2

c) 30:1

d) 10:1
 Explanation
• 30:2 is the AHA expert consensus for the
correct ratio of compressions to ventilations.
 Q2
• The 2010 AHA Guidelines for CPR recommended
BLS sequence of steps are:

a) Airway, Breathing, Chest Compressions

b) Airway, Breathing, Check Pulse

c) Chest compressions, Airway, Breathing

d) None of the above

 Explanation
• The AHA changed from “A, B, C” to “C, A, B” in
2010 to emphasize the importance of early
chest compressions in successful resuscitation.
 Q3
• Signs of airway obstruction include which of the
following?

a) High-pitched noise while inhaling

b) Inability to speak

c) Poor air exchange

d) All of the above

 Explanation
• Poor airway exchange results in impaired ventilation and
may be a sign of airway obstruction.

• High pitched noise while inhaling, called stridor, is a sign of

upper airway impairment and may represent a partial
airway obstruction.

• Speech requires movement of air across the vocal cords. An

airway obstruction will prevent this air movement and
therefore speech.

• All of the above represent signs of possible airway

obstruction.
 Q4
The initial Basic Life Support (BLS) steps for adults are:

a) Check pulse, give rescue breaths, assess the victim, defibrillate

b) Assess the victim, activate EMS and get AED, check pulse, start CPR

c) Assess the victim, give 2 rescue breaths, defibrillate, start CPR

d) Assess the victim, start CPR, give 2 rescue breaths, defibrillate

 Explanation
• The 2010 AHA guidelines recommend starting
CPR before initiating rescue breathing.
• Assessing the victim, activating EMS, rapid use
of an AED, checking pulse, and beginning CPR
is the correct sequence of events for BLS.
• The 2010 AHA guidelines recommend
initiating CPR prior to giving rescue breaths,
and this sequence does not activate EMS.
• This sequence fails to activate EMS.
 Q5
The critical characteristics of high-quality CPR include
which of the following?

a) Minimize interruptions

b) Starting chest compressions within 10 seconds of

recognition of cardiac arrest

c) Push hard and fast

d) All of the above

 Explanation
• Minimizing interruption of circulation by quickly
recognizing cardiac arrest and beginning CPR is an
important characteristic of high-quality CPR and is
emphasized by the AHA guidelines.

• Pushing hard enough to compress the heart and squeeze

blood out, and fast enough to raise blood pressure is a vital
characteristic of high-quality CPR and is emphasized in the
2010 AHA guidelines.

• Minimizing interruptions in CPR keeps blood pressure high

enough to perfuse vital organs including the heart and
brain and is critical to improving outcomes in cardiac arrest.
 Q6
The proper steps for operating an AED are:

a) Power on the AED, attach electrode pads, shock the patient, analyze
the rhythm

b) Check pulse, attach electrode pads, analyze rhythm, shock patient

c) Attach electrode pads, check pulse, shock patient, analyze rhythm

d) Power on the AED, attach electode pads, analyze the rhythm, clear
the patient, deliver shock
 Explanation
• The patient must be analyzed before the AED will advise a
shock

• This represents the correct steps for operating an AED.

• The rhythm must be analyzed before the AED will advise a

shock. A pulse check should have been done prior to
attaching the AED and is not part of AED operation.

• This sequence does not begin with powering on the AED.

 Q7
Where should you attempt to perform a pulse
check in a child from 1 year of age to puberty?
a) Carotid or Femoral artery
b) Brachial artery
c) Temporal artery
d) Ulnar artery
 Explanation
• The brachial artery located on the upper arm is used in
infants below 1 year old.

• The ulnar artery is not used to perform pulse checks in BLS.

• The temporal artery is not used to perform pulse checks in

BLS.

• The carotid and femoral arteries are used to perform pulse

checks in BLS on children from 1 year of age to puberty
 Q8
How often should rescuers switch roles when
performing 2-rescuer CPR?

a) After every 2 cycles of CPR

b) After every 5 cycles of CPR

c) After every 10 cycles of CPR

d) After every cycle of CPR

 Explanation
• Changing roles after every cycle of CPR will create too many
interruptions and impair successful resuscitation.

• Changing roles after every 2 cycles of CPR will create

frequent interruptions in perfusion and is not consistent
with AHA recommendations.

• Changing roles after every 5 cycles of CPR is the currently

recommended frequency to promote high quality CPR.

• CPR is physically demanding and waiting to switch roles

every 10 cycles will likely fatigue the rescuer performing
chest compressions resulting in lower quality CPR.
 Q9
The 5 links in the adult Chain of Survival include all
of the following EXCEPT:

• Early CPR

• Advanced airway placement

• Rapid Defibrillation

• Integrated Post-Cardiac Arrest Care

 Explanation
• Early CPR provides vital oxygen to the brain and vital organs
increasing the likelihood of recovery.

• Rapid defibrillation increases the chance of effectively

restoring a normal heart rhythm.

• Advanced airway placement is not part of the BLS adult

chain of survival.

• Post cardiac arrest care reduces the possibility of long-term

impairment and increases the chance of a victim making a
full recovery.
 Q10
In an adult with an advanced airway in place during 2-
rescuer CPR, breaths should be administered how often?

a) Every 6 to 8 seconds ( 8 to 10 breaths per minute)

b) Every 2 to 3 seconds ( 20 to 30 breaths per minute)

c) Every 10 to 12 seconds ( 5 to 6 breaths per minute)

d) Every 4 to 5 seconds ( 12 to 15 breaths per minute)

 Explanation
• Twenty to thirty breaths per minute will result in hyperventilation
which impedes return of spontaneous circulation.

• One breath every 4 to 5 seconds will result in hyperventilation and

is faster than the AHA guidelines recommend.

• One breath every 6 to 8 seconds results in 8 to 10 breaths per

minute, and is the correct ventilation rate for an adult victim with
an advanced airway.

• One breath every 10 to 12 seconds is slower than AHA guidelines

recommend.
 Source
• National Health Care Provider Solutions

• Link→ https://nhcps.com/bls-certification-
practice-test/