Basic Life Support Exam C Answers

Basic Life Support (BLS) is a critical skill for healthcare professionals, first responders, and even everyday citizens. It equips individuals with the knowledge and abilities to provide immediate care to someone experiencing a life-threatening emergency, such as cardiac arrest or choking. Mastering BLS involves not only understanding the principles and techniques but also demonstrating competency through assessments, including exams. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the key concepts covered in a BLS exam, specifically focusing on potential answers and rationales. While it's not intended to replace formal training, it serves as a valuable resource for reinforcing your understanding and preparing for the exam.

Understanding the Importance of Basic Life Support

Before delving into specific exam questions and answers, it's crucial to understand why BLS is so important. BLS is the foundation of emergency medical care. It focuses on maintaining vital functions – breathing and circulation – until advanced medical help arrives. Early intervention with BLS techniques can significantly increase a person's chances of survival and minimize long-term complications.

Key reasons why BLS is important:

• Increases Survival Rates: Prompt BLS interventions, such as CPR and defibrillation, can dramatically improve survival rates for victims of cardiac arrest.
• Minimizes Brain Damage: Lack of oxygen to the brain can cause irreversible damage within minutes. BLS helps maintain oxygen flow, reducing the risk of neurological impairment.
• Provides a Bridge to Advanced Care: BLS stabilizes the patient until paramedics or other advanced medical professionals can take over.
• Empowers Individuals to Act: BLS training empowers individuals to confidently respond in emergency situations, potentially saving lives.

Core Components of Basic Life Support

A typical BLS course covers several essential components, each of which is likely to be assessed in the exam. These include:

• Scene Safety and Assessment: Ensuring the safety of yourself and the victim.
• Recognition of Cardiac Arrest: Identifying the signs of cardiac arrest (unresponsiveness, absence of normal breathing).
• Activating the Emergency Response System: Calling for help (e.g., dialing 911 or the local emergency number).
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR): Performing chest compressions and rescue breaths.
• Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Use: Understanding how to use an AED to deliver an electrical shock to restore a normal heart rhythm.
• Relief of Foreign-Body Airway Obstruction (Choking): Performing techniques to dislodge an object blocking the airway.

Sample BLS Exam Questions and Answers

This section presents a variety of sample BLS exam questions, along with the correct answers and detailed rationales. These questions are designed to test your understanding of the core concepts and procedures.

Scenario 1: Adult Cardiac Arrest

Question 1: You find an adult who is unresponsive and not breathing normally. What is the first action you should take?

• A) Start chest compressions immediately.
• B) Check for a pulse.
• C) Activate the emergency response system (call 911 or your local emergency number).
• D) Give two rescue breaths.

Answer: C) Activate the emergency response system (call 911 or your local emergency number).

Rationale: The first step in managing a potential cardiac arrest is to ensure that advanced medical help is on its way. Activating the emergency response system ensures that paramedics will arrive to provide further treatment. While CPR is essential, it should be initiated after help has been called.

Question 2: What is the correct depth of chest compressions for an adult?

• A) At least 1 inch (2.5 cm)
• B) At least 2 inches (5 cm)
• C) At least 3 inches (7.6 cm)
• D) Only enough to see the chest rise.

Answer: B) At least 2 inches (5 cm)

Rationale: Effective chest compressions require adequate depth to create sufficient blood flow to the brain and heart. The current guidelines recommend a compression depth of at least 2 inches (5 cm) but not more than 2.4 inches (6 cm) for adults.

Question 3: What is the correct rate of chest compressions for an adult?

• A) 60-80 compressions per minute
• B) 80-100 compressions per minute
• C) 100-120 compressions per minute
• D) 120-140 compressions per minute

Answer: C) 100-120 compressions per minute

Rationale: The recommended rate for chest compressions is 100-120 compressions per minute. This rate provides the optimal balance between compression frequency and allowing the chest to recoil adequately.

Question 4: When performing CPR on an adult, what is the compression-to-ventilation ratio?

• A) 15:2
• B) 30:2
• C) 5:1
• D) Continuous compressions with asynchronous ventilations

Answer: B) 30:2

Rationale: The recommended compression-to-ventilation ratio for adults is 30 compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths. This applies to both single rescuers and two-rescuer CPR. Continuous compressions with asynchronous ventilations are generally recommended when an advanced airway is in place.

Question 5: After activating the emergency response system and starting CPR, you retrieve an AED. What is the next step?

• A) Immediately apply the AED pads and deliver a shock.
• B) Turn on the AED and follow the prompts.
• C) Continue CPR until the paramedics arrive.
• D) Check for a pulse again.

Answer: B) Turn on the AED and follow the prompts.

Rationale: The AED should be used as soon as it is available. Turning it on and following the prompts ensures that the AED analyzes the heart rhythm and delivers a shock if indicated. CPR should be continued until the AED is ready to analyze the rhythm.

Question 6: Where should you place the AED pads on an adult?

• A) Both pads on the chest, side by side
• B) One pad on the upper right chest, below the collarbone, and the other on the left side of the chest, a few inches below the armpit.
• C) One pad on the abdomen and one on the back
• D) Anywhere on the chest as long as they don't touch.

Answer: B) One pad on the upper right chest, below the collarbone, and the other on the left side of the chest, a few inches below the armpit.

Rationale: This placement ensures that the electrical current passes through the heart.

Scenario 2: Child Cardiac Arrest

Question 7: You find a child (1 year to puberty) who is unresponsive and not breathing normally. You are alone. What is the first action you should take?

• A) Immediately start CPR.
• B) Activate the emergency response system after providing 2 minutes of CPR.
• C) Activate the emergency response system before providing CPR.
• D) Check for a pulse and breathing for 10 seconds.

Answer: B) Activate the emergency response system after providing 2 minutes of CPR.

Rationale: For children, the most common cause of cardiac arrest is respiratory failure. As a single rescuer, you should provide approximately 2 minutes of CPR before leaving the child to activate the emergency response system. This allows you to address the likely underlying cause of the arrest. If there is another bystander, one person should call while the other starts CPR.

Question 8: What is the preferred depth of chest compressions for a child?

• A) At least 1 inch (2.5 cm)
• B) About 2 inches (5 cm)
• C) At least one-third the depth of the chest (approximately 2 inches or 5 cm)
• D) Only enough to see the chest rise.

Answer: C) At least one-third the depth of the chest (approximately 2 inches or 5 cm)

Rationale: For children, compressions should be deep enough to generate adequate blood flow, but not so deep as to cause injury. Compressing approximately one-third the depth of the chest generally achieves this goal.

Question 9: When performing CPR on a child with two rescuers, what is the compression-to-ventilation ratio?

• A) 30:2
• B) 15:2
• C) 5:1
• D) Continuous compressions with asynchronous ventilations

Answer: B) 15:2

Rationale: With two rescuers, the compression-to-ventilation ratio for children is 15 compressions to 2 rescue breaths. This reflects the higher likelihood of respiratory problems as the primary cause of cardiac arrest in children.

Question 10: You are using an AED on a child. What modifications, if any, are needed?

• A) Use adult AED pads.
• B) Use pediatric AED pads (attenuated).
• C) Reduce the voltage setting on the AED.
• D) Both B and C.

Answer: D) Both B and C.

Rationale: Ideally, you should use pediatric attenuated AED pads, which deliver a lower dose of electricity. If pediatric pads are not available, adult pads can be used, but you must ensure they do not touch each other on the child’s chest. Some AEDs have a key or switch to attenuate the energy for children.

Scenario 3: Infant Cardiac Arrest

Question 11: You find an infant (less than 1 year old) who is unresponsive and not breathing normally. You are alone. What is the first action you should take?

• A) Immediately start CPR.
• B) Activate the emergency response system after providing 2 minutes of CPR.
• C) Activate the emergency response system before providing CPR.
• D) Check for a pulse and breathing for 10 seconds.

Answer: B) Activate the emergency response system after providing 2 minutes of CPR.

Rationale: Similar to children, infants are more likely to experience cardiac arrest due to respiratory problems. As a single rescuer, you should provide approximately 2 minutes of CPR before leaving the infant to activate the emergency response system.

Question 12: What is the preferred technique for chest compressions on an infant by a single rescuer?

• A) Heel of one hand
• B) Two fingers
• C) Two thumbs encircling the chest
• D) All of the above

Answer: B) Two fingers

Rationale: A single rescuer should use two fingers (index and middle) placed just below the nipple line to deliver chest compressions on an infant. Two thumbs encircling technique is preferred by two rescuers.

Question 13: What is the correct depth of chest compressions for an infant?

• A) At least 1 inch (2.5 cm)
• B) About 1.5 inches (4 cm)
• C) At least one-third the depth of the chest (approximately 1.5 inches or 4 cm)
• D) Only enough to see the chest rise.

Answer: C) At least one-third the depth of the chest (approximately 1.5 inches or 4 cm)

Rationale: For infants, compressions should be deep enough to generate adequate blood flow, but not so deep as to cause injury. Compressing approximately one-third the depth of the chest generally achieves this goal.

Question 14: When performing CPR on an infant with two rescuers, what is the compression-to-ventilation ratio?

• A) 30:2
• B) 15:2
• C) 3:1
• D) Continuous compressions with asynchronous ventilations

Answer: B) 15:2

Rationale: With two rescuers, the compression-to-ventilation ratio for infants is 15 compressions to 2 rescue breaths.

Question 15: Can you use an AED on an infant?

• A) Yes, always
• B) Yes, but only if pediatric pads are available
• C) No, never
• D) Only if the infant is over 6 months old

Answer: B) Yes, but only if pediatric pads are available

Rationale: If possible, use an AED with a dose attenuator or use pediatric pads. If neither is available, manual defibrillation is preferred, but if not available, an AED without a dose attenuator may be used.

Scenario 4: Choking

Question 16: An adult is choking and is unable to speak or cough. What is the appropriate action?

• A) Encourage them to keep coughing.
• B) Perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver).
• C) Perform chest thrusts.
• D) Give back blows.

Answer: B) Perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver).

Rationale: When an adult is choking and unable to speak or cough effectively, abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) are the recommended intervention to dislodge the foreign object.

Question 17: You are alone and an adult starts choking and becomes unresponsive. What should you do?

• A) Leave the person and call for help.
• B) Begin CPR, starting with chest compressions.
• C) Perform abdominal thrusts until the object is dislodged.
• D) Perform a finger sweep of the mouth.

Answer: B) Begin CPR, starting with chest compressions.

Rationale: If the person becomes unresponsive, you should lower them to the ground and begin CPR. Each time you open the airway to give breaths, look for the obstructing object. If you see an object, remove it.

Question 18: How do you relieve choking in an infant?

• A) Perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver).
• B) Perform chest thrusts and back blows.
• C) Encourage the infant to cough.
• D) Perform back blows only.

Answer: B) Perform chest thrusts and back blows.

Rationale: For a choking infant, deliver five back blows followed by five chest thrusts. Repeat this sequence until the object is dislodged or the infant becomes unresponsive.

Question 19: Where on the infant's body should you administer back blows?

• A) Between the shoulder blades
• B) On the abdomen
• C) On the chest
• D) On the forehead

Answer: A) Between the shoulder blades

Rationale: Back blows should be delivered firmly between the infant's shoulder blades.

Question 20: When giving chest thrusts to an infant, where should you place your fingers?

• A) On the lower half of the sternum, between the nipples
• B) On the abdomen, just above the navel
• C) On the upper half of the sternum
• D) Anywhere on the chest

Answer: A) On the lower half of the sternum, between the nipples

Rationale: Chest thrusts should be given on the lower half of the sternum, between the nipples, using two fingers.

Additional BLS Concepts to Review

In addition to the scenarios and questions above, make sure you are familiar with the following concepts:

• Chain of Survival: Understand the steps in the Chain of Survival (Recognition of cardiac arrest and activation of the emergency response system, Early CPR, Rapid Defibrillation, Effective Advanced Life Support, Integrated Post-Cardiac Arrest Care).
• Team Dynamics: Know how to function effectively as part of a resuscitation team.
• Legal Considerations: Be aware of Good Samaritan laws and the importance of acting within your scope of training.
• Bag-Valve-Mask (BVM) Ventilation: Learn how to properly use a BVM to provide rescue breaths.
• Special Situations: Understand how to modify BLS techniques for pregnant women, obese individuals, and victims of drowning or trauma.
• CPR Feedback Devices: How CPR feedback devices can improve the quality of chest compressions.

Tips for Success on the BLS Exam

• Attend a Reputable BLS Course: A hands-on course provides valuable practical experience.
• Review the Course Materials: Thoroughly study the textbook, handouts, and online resources.
• Practice the Skills: Practice chest compressions, rescue breaths, and AED use on a manikin.
• Understand the Rationale Behind the Procedures: Don't just memorize the steps; understand why each step is important.
• Stay Calm and Focused: During the exam, read each question carefully and avoid rushing.
• Ask for Clarification: If you don't understand a question, ask the instructor for clarification.

Conclusion

Mastering Basic Life Support is a critical skill that can empower you to save lives. By understanding the core concepts, practicing the techniques, and preparing thoroughly for the exam, you can demonstrate your competency and confidently respond in emergency situations. Remember that this article is intended as a supplement to formal training, not a replacement. Always prioritize hands-on training and guidance from certified instructors. Good luck with your BLS exam!