BLS CPR Test Questions and Answers for Skill Review and Practice

Begin with a steady rhythm of 100–120 compressions per minute to maintain consistent chest movement during any rescue scenario. This tempo supports circulation across adult, child, or infant cases.

Depth targets remain specific: about 5 cm for adults, near one third of the torso for younger groups. These metrics appear repeatedly in skill checks, so keeping them precise helps reduce frequent errors during structured drills.

Call for emergency assistance immediately when a victim shows no normal breathing. Many evaluation items focus on exact sequence: assessing the area, activating help, initiating compressions, providing ventilation. Accurate order boosts response speed in simulated events.

Ventilation guidance stresses controlled volume. Deliver just enough air to achieve a clear chest rise; excessive force risks complications. Scenario tasks often highlight this detail, making careful technique valuable during practice rounds.

Resuscitation Assessment Items With Model Responses

Focus on scenarios covering adult, pediatric, and infant resuscitation. For example, learners may be asked to identify when someone has no breathing or only gasping. According to the latest AHA guidelines, responders should assume a cardiac arrest and begin compressions without delay. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

In exam situations, depth of chest compressions is measured precisely: roughly 5 cm for an adult, about one-third of the chest wall for a child or infant. These values align with the 2025 AHA life-support recommendations. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Some assessment prompts require the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). Candidates may need to demonstrate the correct rhythm-check cycle and safe shock delivery. The 2025 guidelines emphasize minimizing interruption to compressions immediately before and after shock. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Overdose-related arrest items are increasingly common. The 2025 recommendations now include opioid reversal (e.g., naloxone) during respiratory or circulatory collapse. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Foreign-body airway obstruction (choking) presents age-specific assessment tasks. For adults, rescuers must switch between back blows and abdominal thrusts. Pediatric and infant scenarios may involve different strategies such as chest thrusts or combination techniques. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Team-based resuscitation prompts often appear in provider-level evaluations. These may include assigning roles (compressor, ventilator, AED operator) and maintaining high-quality compression fractions – keeping pauses as brief as possible. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

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Adult Resuscitation Compression and Ventilation Items

Maintain a rhythm of 100–120 compressions per minute, using firm pressure to reach approximately 5 cm depth on an adult chest. This range supports adequate circulation without causing excessive trauma.

Allow complete chest recoil after each push. Incomplete release reduces forward blood flow, which lowers the success of circulation during a rescue scenario focused on adult victims.

Deliver two breaths after every 30 compressions when using a barrier device. Each breath should last about one second, producing a visible chest rise without forcing excess air into the lungs.

Check airway patency before ventilation by tilting the head and lifting the chin. This maneuver reduces obstruction from soft tissues, improving oxygen delivery with each breath.

If an advanced airway becomes available during a scenario, switch to uninterrupted compressions at the usual tempo while giving one breath every six seconds. This schedule prevents breath stacking and supports consistent circulation.

Child Resuscitation Response With Compression Depth Scenarios

Use a quick check for breathing irregularities, moving to compressions immediately if no normal respiratory effort is present.

• Position hands at the lower half of the sternum, using one or two hands depending on the child’s size.
• Press to a depth of roughly one third of the chest, usually about 4–5 cm.
• Maintain a tempo of 100–120 presses per minute with full chest recoil between pushes.

Introduce breaths after each cycle of 30 presses when working alone. With two helpers, shift to a 15-to-2 pattern for improved oxygen delivery.

1. Open the airway using a head-tilt and chin-lift technique.
2. Provide each breath over one second, watching for visible chest rise.
3. Avoid excessive volume to reduce the risk of gastric inflation.

In scenarios involving sudden collapse, prioritize rapid alert of emergency services while continuing rhythmic compressions until advanced support arrives.

Infant Chest Support Hand Position With Ventilation Steps

Place two fingers on the center of the sternum, slightly below the nipple line, applying vertical pressure without leaning on the chest between presses.

Use a depth of roughly one third of the torso, typically near 4 cm, keeping a steady rhythm of 100–120 presses per minute while allowing full recoil.

For ventilation, create a seal over the mouth plus nose using gentle breaths lasting one second, aiming for a small but visible rise of the chest.

Maintain head positioning with a neutral tilt to avoid airway blockage, adjusting slightly if chest movement remains minimal during each breath.

AED Use and Safety Questions for All Age Groups

Apply pads on a bare, dry chest, placing one on the upper right side and the other on the lower left side, ensuring firm adhesion for accurate rhythm analysis.

• Turn on the device immediately after pad placement to allow rapid assessment.
• Keep all hands off the body during analysis to prevent motion interference.
• Step clear before delivering a shock, verifying that no one touches the victim.

For children older than one year, use pediatric pads if available, positioning them similarly while maintaining adequate spacing to avoid pad overlap.

1. For infants or very small children, place one pad on the chest center and the second on the back between the shoulder blades.
2. Continue rhythmic chest compressions as soon as the device instructs, minimizing any pause after shock delivery.
3. Check for any medical patches or implanted devices; place pads at least 2–3 cm away to ensure proper conduction.

Choking Relief Questions for Adult Victims

Start with five firm back blows, directing force between the shoulder blades while keeping the person leaning forward to promote airway clearance.

Follow with abdominal thrusts if back blows fail to expel the obstruction. Position your hands above the navel, pull inward and upward using controlled force, repeating until the object is removed.

If the person becomes unresponsive, lower them to the ground safely, activate emergency services, then begin rhythmic chest presses to help dislodge the blockage while awaiting advanced support.

Inspect the mouth only if material becomes visible; avoid blind finger sweeps to prevent pushing debris deeper into the airway.

Choking Relief Steps for Children + Infants

Use five targeted back blows for both age groups, adjusting force to body size to promote airway clearance without causing injury.

For children, follow with upward abdominal thrusts positioned above the navel, applying repeated inward motions until the obstruction is expelled.

For infants, shift to five chest thrusts using two fingers at the sternum center, keeping the head lower than the torso to improve expulsion.

Check the mouth only when material becomes visible, avoiding blind sweeps that may worsen the blockage.

Team-Based Resuscitation Roles + Scenario Situations

Assign a compressor who maintains a steady 100–120 rate per minute with a depth of 5–6 cm, switching with another member every two minutes to prevent fatigue.

Designate an airway specialist who positions the head, seals the mask correctly, delivers controlled breaths at a 30:2 ratio, + adjusts technique once an advanced device is placed.

Place a monitor/defibrillator operator in charge of rhythm checks, shock decisions, voice cues for role rotation, + confirmation of pulse evaluations.

Use a team leader who issues brief commands, tracks cycle timing, verifies role execution, + redirects actions when performance drops.

During scenario drills, simulate delays in rhythm recognition, compressor fatigue, conflicts in role overlap, + misplaced equipment to reinforce rapid correction.

Common Missed Skill Items With Correct Solutions

Use a 10-second limit for pulse checks; extending this window delays initial chest compressions, reducing circulation during the first critical moments.

Maintain a 30:2 compression-to-ventilation pattern for single-rescuer care unless an advanced airway is inserted, after which breaths shift to one every 6 seconds without pausing compressions.

Select the correct hand position by placing the heel of the hand on the lower half of the sternum; drifting toward the ribs increases fracture risk + reduces force transfer.

Deliver compressions at 100–120 per minute while allowing complete chest recoil; leaning between compressions limits venous return + lowers perfusion.

Activate an AED immediately upon arrival, applying pads to the upper right chest + left lateral thorax; delays in shock delivery reduce survival probability with each passing minute.