Basic Life-Saving Flashcards

1
Q

(BLS Training)

For the purposes of BLS, what are the age ranges for an adult, child, and infant?

A

Adult - post-puberty

Child - 1 year of age until puberty

Infant - ≤ 1 year of age

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

(BLS Training)

What signs of puberty allow for BLS categorization by age range?

A

Chest and underarm hair in males;

breast development in females

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

(BLS Training)

CPR is designed for what emergency medical situation(s)?

A

Cardiac arrest

(unresponsive, no normal breathing, no pulse)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

(BLS Training)

CPR should be initiated if a patient presents with what three signs?

A

Unresponsive, no normal breathing, no pulse

(cardiac arrest)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

(BLS Training)

Ideally, how quickly should CPR be started following cardiac arrest?

A

Within 10 seconds of recognition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

(BLS Training)

What are the two components of CPR?

A

Compressions and breaths

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

(BLS Training)

How fast should the CPR compressions rate be?

How far into an adult chest should they go?

A

100 - 120 compressions per minute (~2 per second);

2 inches

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

(BLS Training)

How fast should the CPR compressions rate be?

How far into a child’s chest should they go?

A

100 - 120 compressions per minute (~2 per second);

2 inches

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

(BLS Training)

How fast should the CPR compressions rate be?

How far into an infant chest should they go?

A

100 - 120 compressions per minute (~2 per second);

1.5 inches

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

(BLS Training)

How can you tell if your CPR breaths are effective?

A

The chest must rise

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

(BLS Training)

Are CPR compressions more often too deep or too shallow?

A

Too shallow

(should be between 2 and 2.4 inches)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

(BLS Training)

What is the geographic distinction in when to use either of the two BLS chains of survival?

A

In-hospital cardiac arrest (IHCA);

out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OCHA)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

(BLS Training)

What is the chain of survival in an IHCA (in-hospital cardiac arrest)?

A

Surveillance, treatment of prearrest conditions;

recognition, activation of the emergency response system;

CPR (emphasis on compressions);

defibrillation;

post-cardiac arrest care

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

(BLS Training)

What is the chain of survival in an OHCA (out-of-hospital cardiac arrest)?

A

Recognition, activation of the emergency response system;

CPR (emphasis on compressions);

defibrillation;

advanced LS, transportation;

post-cardiac arrest care

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

(BLS Training)

Can IHCAs generally be prevented?

A

Yes;

through sufficient hospital monitoring and treatment of prearrest conditions (typically respiratory and/or cardiac conditions)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

(BLS Training)

What should happen after an individual in cardiac arrest is returned to spontaneous circulation?

A

They should be transferred to multidisciplinary post-cardiac arrest care

(cath lab and/or ICU)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

(BLS Training)

What are the primary causes of cardiac arrest in adults?

In children?

A

Cardiac conditions;

respiratory failure and/or shock

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

(BLS Training)

What link in the pediatric chain of survival comes before recognition of cardiac arrest?

A

Recognition and treatment of any respiratory failure and/or shock that will predispose the child to cardiac arrest

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

(BLS Training)

What is the difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack?

A

Cardiac arrest = abnormal rhythym, inadequate contraction to pump blood

Heart attack = clot/blockage of coronary arteries (can lead to arrythmia and cardiac arrest)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

(BLS Training)

How quickly can death occur in cardiac arrest vs. heart attack?

A

Cardiac arrest - immediate cessation of blood flow and normal breathing (may be gasping); death occurs within minutes if no treatment given

Heart attack - blood is often still pumping (although sudden cardiac arrest can occur); may take anywhere from minutes to a few hours until heart tissue is irreversibly damaged

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

(BLS Training)

How should a sole individual with little training and limited equipment treat cardiac arrest?

How should a sole individual with sufficient training treat cardiac arrest?

How should an emergency response team of three with sufficient training treat cardiac arrest?

A

Just chest compressions;

30 : 2 CPR cycles (compressions : breaths);

one person does compressions, one person bags the airway, one person controls the defibrillator

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

(BLS Training)

What are the three main components of CPR?

A

Compressions;

airway;

breathing

(CAB)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

(BLS Training)

You arrive on a scene with an unconscious individual, what should you do first?

A

Verify the scene is safe

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

(BLS Training)

You arrive on a scene with an unconscious individual and have verified that the scene is safe. You shout for help and tell a specific person to call 9-1-1 (or activate the emergency response).

What should you check next?

A

Breathing and pulse (simultaneously) for 10 seconds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

(BLS Training)

You arrive on a scene with an unconscious adult individual and have verified that the scene is safe. You shout for help and tell a specific person to call 9-1-1 (or activate the emergency response).

The unconscious individual has normal breathing and pulse. What should you do next?

A

Monitor until EMS arrives.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

(BLS Training)

You arrive on a scene with an unconscious adult individual and have verified that the scene is safe.

The unconscious individual has a pulse but is not breathing normally. You shout for help and tell a specific person to call 9-1-1. What should you do while you wait for EMS?

A

Rescue breathing:

1 breath every 5-6 seconds;

check pulse every 2 minutes (if absent, initiate full CPR);

administer naloxone if potential opioid overdose

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

(BLS Training)

You arrive on a scene with an unconscious adult individual and have verified that the scene is safe.

The unconscious individual has no pulse and is gasping irregularly for air. You shout for help and tell a specific person to call 9-1-1 and another to find an AED.

What should you do next?

A

30:2 CPR cycles;

use the AED as soon as it is available (if AED identifies a shockable rhythym)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

(BLS Training)

After administering an AED shock, what should you do next?

A

Restart compressions immediately;

recheck rhythym after 2 minutes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

(BLS Training)

Upon finding an apparently unconscious individual and ensuring the scene is safe, how should you check for responsiveness before calling for help?

If the victim is unresponsive, what will you do next?

A

Tap the victim’s shoulder and shout “are you okay?”

Call for help,

contact EMS,

secure an AED,

check for pulse and breathing (begin CPR algorithim)

30
Q

(BLS Training)

Upon finding an unconscious adult individual, verifying the scene is safe, checking for responsiveness, contacting EMS, and securing an AED, what should you do next? How?

A

Check breathing and pulse simultaneously;

check the carotid pulse and watch for rise and fall of the chest for no more than 10 seconds (continue with CPR algorithim)

31
Q

(BLS Training)

What is gasping?

A

Abnormal breathing that may occur in the first few minutes of cardiac arrest;

variability: may be groans, snorts, grunts, or silent; may be forceful or weak; may involve mouth, neck, and jaw movement or not

32
Q

(BLS Training)

A gasping, unconscious individual has no regular pulse, what should you do?

A gasping, unconscious individual has a regular pulse, what should you do?

A

Initiate CPR;

initiate rescue breathing

33
Q

(BLS Training)

Where should one’s force be placed when performing chest compressions?

A

Straight down on the bare skin of the middle of the sternum

(remove any clothing in the way so the sternum can be identified and the chest exposed for AED usage)

34
Q

(BLS Training)

How should breaths be given in cases of an individual with a potential neck injury?

A

The jaw-thrust (and if that doesn’t work, the head tilt-chin lift)

35
Q

(BLS Training)

How should breaths be given in cases of an individual with a potential neck injury if the jaw-thrust is ineffective?

A

The head tilt-chin lift

36
Q

(BLS Training)

What percentage of the air we breathe in is oxygen?

What percentage of the air we breathe out is oxygen?

A

21%

17%

37
Q

(BLS Training)

What is the C-E clamp?

A

A method of securing the bag-mask to a patient during CPR

(first and second fingers are the C; third, forth, and fifth fingers are the E)

38
Q

(BLS Training)
How often should a CPR team switch who is doing chest compressions?

A

Every 5 cycles (about 2 minutes) so as not to decrease in compression efficacy due to fatigue

(typically while the AED is analyzing the rhythym)

39
Q

(BLS Training)

How short should the interval between the last compression and shock delivery be?

A

As short as safely possible

40
Q

(BLS Training)

What are two examples of shockable rhythyms that are often present in cases of cardiac arrest?

A

Pulseless ventricular tachycardia;

ventricular fibrillation

41
Q

(BLS Training)

On what age range are adult AED pads used?

On what age range are child AED pads used?

A

8 and older

7 and younger

42
Q

(BLS Training)

What should you do immediately after administering a shock if it is indicated by the AED?

What should you do if no shock is indicated by the AED?

A

Restart compressions;

restart compressions

43
Q

(BLS Training)

What are the two typical options for AED pad placement?

A

Anterolateral;

anteroposterior

44
Q

(BLS Training)

When should the AED be used during CPR?

A

As soon as it arrives on scene

45
Q

(BLS Training)

If you did not witness the collapse of the victim, what should you do after verifying scene safety?

A

Give 2 minutes of CPR before leaving to call for help or find an AED

46
Q

(BLS Training)

What pulse(s) should be checked if an unresponsive victim is an infant?

What age range qualifies as an infant?

A

The brachial pulse;

less than one year of age

47
Q

(BLS Training)

What pulse(s) should be checked if an unresponsive victim is a child?

What age range qualifies as a child?

A

The carotid or femoral pulse;

1 year of age - puberty

48
Q

(BLS Training)

What should you do if performing rescue breathing on a child with a pulse but no breathing, and the pulse drops or remains below 60 bpm?

A

Begin compressions

49
Q

(BLS Training)

Describe chest compressions for the following age categories:

adult

child

infant

A

Adult - two hands, mid-sternum;

child - one or two hands, mid-sternum;

infant - two fingers, mid-sternum

(whatever is needed to provide adequate depth)

50
Q

(BLS Training)

What changes about infant CPR if two rescuers are present?

A

The compressions-to-breaths ratio drops from 30:2 to 15:2 (note: this is also true for children);

the (one-handed) two-finger technique can be exchanged for the encircling two-finger technique shown below

51
Q

(BLS Training)

For whom are CPR breaths more important, children/infants or adults?

A

Children/infants;

their cardiac arrest is often preceeded by respiratory distress and shock

52
Q

(BLS Training)

How deep should chest compressions go for an infant or child?

A

1/3 the AP diameter of the chest

(usually about 2 inches for a child and 1.5 inches for an infant)

53
Q

(BLS Training)

When should a 15:2 ratio be used for compressions-to-breaths in CPR?

A

For children and infants when two or more rescuers are present

54
Q

(BLS Training)

For what age range should a lower AED shock be used if available?

A

Age 7 or younger

55
Q

(BLS Training)
If no pediatric AED is available, what should be done for an unresponsive patient less than 8 years of age?

A

Use the adult AED (even for an infant)

56
Q

(BLS Training)
How should AED shock pads be placed on an infant or child?

A
57
Q

(BLS Training)

How does the CPR protocol change if an advanced airway (endotracheal tube, laryngeal mask airway, etc.) is in place?

A

Chest compressions should be continuous;

breaths should be 1 per every 6 seconds

58
Q

(BLS Training)

How does rescue breathing differ between adults and children/infants?

A

Adults are given 1 breath every 6 seconds;

children/infants are given 1 breath every 4 seconds

59
Q

(BLS Training)

What are some basic guidelines for rescue breathing (breath assistance when a pulse is present)?

A

Breathes should be given in 1 second each;

the chest should visibly rise;

the pulse should be checked every 2 minutes

60
Q

(BLS Training)

You come across a child that is gasping irregularly for breath, does not respond at all to your calls and shoulder taps, and has a pulse.

What should you do (assuming you’ve check the scene safety and called for help and an AED)?

A

Initiate rescue breathing

(1 breath per 4 second period);

initiate chest compressions if the child becomes cyanotic or has no pulse or has a pulse below 60 bpm

61
Q

(BLS Training)
What is a sometimes unavoidable consequence of giving breathes too quickly or too forcefully during CPR?

A

Gastric inflation

62
Q

(BLS Training)

If no bag or mask is present, what is the preferred method of CPR breathes for adults/children and infants?

A

Adults/children - mouth-to-mouth (pinching the nose and tilting the head back);

infants - mouth-to-mouth-and-nose (tilting the head slightly back)

63
Q

(BLS Training)

If a conscious individual has aspirated something but has good air exchange and can cough forcefully (and may wheeze between coughs), what should you do?

A

Encourage continued coughing;

monitor / prepare in case it turns into a more severe airway obstruction

64
Q

(BLS Training)

If a choking adult or child is some combination of the following:

  • unable to speak or cry,*
  • clutching their throat,*
  • has poor air exchange,*
  • has a weak or ineffectual cough,*
  • is becoming cyanotic,*

what should you do?

A

Ask if the individual is choking;

perform abdominal thrusts (the Heimlich manuever)

65
Q

(BLS Training)

If a choking infant is some combination of the following:

  • unable to speak or cry,*
  • clutching their throat,*
  • has poor air exchange,*
  • has a weak or ineffectual cough,*
  • is becoming cyanotic,*

what should you do?

A

Give five slaps on the child’s back;

give five slaps on the child’s chest

(as shown in the image)

66
Q

(BLS Training)

How should you approach a choking individual that is pregnant or obese?

A

With chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts

67
Q

(BLS Training)
How is the Heimlich maneuver administered?

A

Stand or kneel behind the individual;

place a fist (thumb-side first) into the person’s abdomen below the sternum;

use your other hand to grab the wrist that is already near the abdomen;

repeatedly pull in and up in sharp thrusts until the item is dislodged or the individual loses consciousness

68
Q

(BLS Training)

What should you do if abdominal thrusts fail and the choking individual loses consciousness?

A

Begin CPR immediately

69
Q

(BLS Training)

If the object in an unconscious, choking infant’s throat is not visible, what should you do?

A

Just continue CPR, do not do any sort of blind finger sweep

(this will likely only push any lodged object in farther)

70
Q

(BLS Training)

When should the blind finger sweep be used in trying to find and remove an object that is blocking an individual’s airway?

A

Never;

blind finger sweeps are more likely to push the object in farther than help get it out