BLS Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (11–20)

Question 1

An advanced airway (supraglottic device) has been placed in an adult cardiac arrest patient. Two rescuers are now providing CPR. How should compressions and ventilations be coordinated?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Deliver continuous compressions at 100-120/min; one breath every 6 seconds without pausing compressions. Once an advanced airway is in place, AHA BLS guidelines instruct rescuers to perform continuous compressions at 100–120/min while the ventilating rescuer delivers one breath every 6 seconds (10 breaths/min), eliminating compression pauses for ventilation.

Question 2

You are the only healthcare provider present when an adult collapses. You check the carotid pulse for 8 seconds and feel a weak, slow pulse (about 40/min) with no breathing. What is the CORRECT next action?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Provide rescue breaths only at one breath every 5-6 seconds; reassess every 2 minutes. For an adult who has a palpable pulse but is not breathing adequately, AHA BLS guidelines direct the rescuer to deliver rescue breaths (1 breath every 5–6 seconds, about 10–12/min) and reassess the pulse approximately every 2 minutes — full CPR is not indicated when a pulse is present.

Question 3

During a resuscitation attempt, a team member suggests pausing compressions for 20 seconds to reassess rhythm on the monitor. According to AHA BLS high-quality CPR principles, what is the MAXIMUM acceptable hands-off interval during CPR?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

10 seconds. The AHA specifies that CPR interruptions (hands-off intervals) should be kept to less than 10 seconds to maintain perfusion pressure; a 20-second pause is inconsistent with high-quality CPR and would significantly decrease coronary and cerebral perfusion.

Question 4

A compression depth feedback device alerts that the provider is compressing to 2.6 inches (6.6 cm) on each compression. What concern does this raise?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Compressions exceeding approximately 2.4 inches (6 cm) are associated with increased risk of injury without additional benefit. AHA BLS guidelines state adult compression depth should be at least 2 inches (5 cm) but caution against excessive depth beyond approximately 2.4 inches (6 cm), as greater depth is associated with injury (e.g., rib fractures, liver lacerations) without improving survival.

Question 5

You witness a cardiac arrest in a hospital lobby. You begin CPR and direct a bystander to retrieve the AED. The AED arrives. What is the correct sequence once the AED is turned on and pads are placed?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Pause compressions, allow the AED to analyze rhythm, clear the patient before delivering a shock if advised, then immediately resume CPR starting with compressions. The AHA BLS protocol requires pausing compressions for AED rhythm analysis (to avoid artifact), ensuring no one touches the patient before shock delivery, then immediately resuming CPR beginning with compressions right after the shock — the post-shock pause should be less than 10 seconds.

Question 6

Two healthcare providers are resuscitating an adult. Provider A has been compressing for 1 minute and 50 seconds. An AED is currently analyzing the rhythm (compressions paused). When should Provider B take over compressions?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Immediately after the analysis ends, regardless of whether a shock is delivered. Because the natural break in compressions during AED analysis provides the ideal switchover moment and Provider A has already performed nearly 2 minutes of compressions, the AHA recommends switching at this pause so the next CPR cycle immediately begins with a fresh, high-quality compressor.

Question 7

When you turn on an AED and attach the pads to a victim, what should you do immediately after the AED announces 'analyzing rhythm'?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Ensure no one is touching the victim so the analysis is accurate. Everyone must stop touching the victim during AED rhythm analysis to prevent motion artifact from corrupting the reading and producing an inaccurate result.

Question 8

For an average adult victim, where should the AED pads be placed?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

One pad on the upper right chest below the clavicle, one pad on the lower left side below the armpit. The standard AED pad placement is one pad on the upper right chest (below the right clavicle) and one pad on the lower left lateral chest wall (below the left axilla), forming a pathway across the heart.

Question 9

A 7-year-old child is in cardiac arrest and you have access only to an adult AED without pediatric pads or a dose attenuator. What is the correct action?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Use the adult AED with adult pads, applying one pad front and one pad on the back if they would otherwise overlap. When pediatric pads or a dose-attenuating key are unavailable for a child aged 1–8 years, AHA guidelines state it is acceptable to use adult pads, repositioning them in an anterior-posterior configuration to prevent pad contact.

Question 10

The AED has delivered a shock to a pulseless victim. What is the FIRST action the rescuer should take immediately after shock delivery?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Immediately resume chest compressions starting with compressions. Per AHA BLS guidelines, rescuers should immediately resume CPR starting with chest compressions right after shock delivery without pausing for a pulse check, minimizing the post-shock pause.

BLS Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (11–20)

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