BLS Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (1–10)

Question 1

You arrive at a scene where a person is lying motionless on the floor. What is the FIRST action you should take before approaching?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Ensure the scene is safe for you to approach. Scene safety is the first priority in any emergency response — a rescuer who becomes a victim cannot help anyone, so you must ensure the environment is safe before approaching.

Question 2

When performing adult CPR as a lone rescuer, what is the correct compression-to-ventilation ratio?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

30:2. The AHA BLS standard for a lone rescuer performing adult CPR is 30 compressions followed by 2 ventilations, regardless of whether an advanced airway is in place.

Question 3

A colleague collapses at work. After confirming the scene is safe, you tap the person's shoulders firmly and shout. There is no response. What should you do NEXT?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Simultaneously check for breathing and a carotid pulse for no more than 10 seconds. After confirming unresponsiveness, the AHA BLS protocol directs you to simultaneously check for breathing and a carotid pulse for no more than 10 seconds before deciding on the next action.

Question 4

During adult CPR, your partner notes that the patient's chest is not fully returning to its resting position between compressions. What is the MOST likely consequence of this finding?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Venous return to the heart will be reduced, lowering cardiac output. Incomplete chest recoil (leaning on the chest) elevates intrathoracic pressure and impairs venous return, which decreases cardiac output and reduces the effectiveness of CPR.

Question 5

You are performing solo CPR on an adult. After your first set of 30 compressions, you deliver 2 rescue breaths, each taking about 1 second. Approximately how long should both rescue breaths take in total before you resume compressions?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

About 2 seconds combined. Each breath should be delivered over 1 second with visible chest rise, meaning both breaths together take approximately 2 seconds, minimizing interruptions to compressions.

Question 6

A bystander CPR team has been performing compressions for nearly 2 minutes. According to AHA BLS guidelines, what should they do at this point regarding the compressor role?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Switch compressors every 2 minutes or 5 cycles to prevent fatigue-related quality decline. The AHA recommends switching compressors approximately every 2 minutes (or every 5 cycles of 30:2) because rescuer fatigue quickly degrades compression depth and rate, reducing CPR quality.

Question 7

While checking a collapsed adult, you observe slow, irregular, gasping breaths occurring about every 8 seconds. How should you interpret this finding?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

This is agonal breathing and should be treated as absent breathing — begin CPR. Agonal respirations are ineffective, irregular gasps that occur shortly after cardiac arrest and should not be mistaken for normal breathing; the AHA treats agonal breathing as absent breathing, requiring immediate CPR.

Question 8

During adult CPR you are pressing down approximately 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) on each compression. Why is this a concern?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Compressions that are too shallow generate insufficient blood flow to vital organs. AHA BLS guidelines require adult compression depth of at least 2 inches (5 cm) because shallower compressions are associated with inadequate perfusion pressure and reduced survival rates.

Question 9

At which point in the adult in-hospital Chain of Survival does CPR fit MOST directly?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

High-quality CPR. The in-hospital adult Chain of Survival includes surveillance and prevention, recognition and activation of the emergency response system, high-quality CPR, defibrillation, and post-cardiac-arrest care — CPR is the third link.

Question 10

You are performing compressions on an adult at a rate you estimate to be around 110/min. A metronome app reads 125/min. Which statement about your actual rate is correct?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

125/min exceeds the maximum of 120/min and should be slowed. The AHA BLS target compression rate is 100–120/min; exceeding 120/min is associated with inadequate compression depth and reduced diastolic filling time, so the rate should be corrected downward.

BLS Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (1–10)

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