BLS Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (21–30)

Question 1

You are preparing to deliver an AED shock when a bystander suddenly grabs the victim's hand. What is the safety priority?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Loudly announce 'Clear!' and visually confirm no one is touching the victim before pressing the shock button. Before pressing the shock button, the rescuer must announce a clear warning, visually verify that no bystanders are in contact with the victim, and ensure no one is touching any part of the victim or anything connected to the victim.

Question 2

A victim is lying on a wet pool deck. An AED is available. Which statement BEST describes the correct course of action?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Move the victim away from the standing water, quickly dry the chest, then attach the AED pads and use the device. AHA guidelines instruct rescuers to remove a victim from standing water and wipe the chest dry before applying AED pads, because water on the skin can conduct electricity between pads and cause a burn or reduce shock efficacy.

Question 3

Which of the following rhythms is classified as shockable and would prompt the AED to advise a shock?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Ventricular fibrillation (VF). The two shockable arrest rhythms recognized by AHA are ventricular fibrillation and pulseless ventricular tachycardia; PEA and asystole are non-shockable and require continued CPR.

Question 4

An AED analyzes and announces 'No shock advised.' The victim still has no pulse. What should the rescuer do?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Immediately resume CPR and allow the AED to re-analyze after approximately 2 minutes of CPR. A 'no shock advised' message indicates a non-shockable rhythm such as asystole or PEA; rescuers must immediately resume high-quality CPR and allow the AED to re-analyze after the next 2-minute CPR cycle.

Question 5

A victim has an implanted pacemaker visible as a bulge in the upper left chest. Where should the rescuer place the AED pad on the left side?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

At least 1 inch (2.5 cm) away from the pacemaker, maintaining standard lateral pad position. AHA guidelines state that AED pads should be placed at least 1 inch away from an implanted device to avoid shunting current through the device and to ensure effective shock delivery.

Question 6

A victim has a transdermal nitroglycerin patch on the upper left chest where an AED pad must be placed. What is the correct action?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Remove the patch, wipe the skin, and then apply the AED pad. Medication patches should be removed and the skin wiped before pad placement because patches can block the electrical current and may cause skin burns during defibrillation.

Question 7

During a 2-rescuer AED scenario, Rescuer 1 is performing CPR while Rescuer 2 sets up the AED. At what point should Rescuer 1 stop compressions?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

When Rescuer 2 has attached both pads and the AED begins rhythm analysis. CPR should continue uninterrupted until the AED pads are fully attached and the device initiates analysis, at which point rescuers stop touching the victim only for the brief analysis and shock delivery interval.

Question 8

A victim goes into cardiac arrest and an AED is brought to the scene. A bystander is already performing CPR. In what order should the team proceed?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Continue CPR while simultaneously attaching the AED pads, pause CPR only for analysis, shock if advised, immediately resume CPR. AHA guidelines emphasize minimizing interruptions to chest compressions; CPR should continue while the second rescuer attaches the AED pads, pausing only during the brief analysis and shock delivery.

Question 9

Approximately how long should the pre-shock pause (from stopping compressions to shock delivery) ideally be kept to optimize the chance of successful defibrillation?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Less than 5 seconds. AHA and ECC evidence indicates that minimizing the pre-shock pause to less than 5 seconds maximizes the likelihood of shock success because myocardial perfusion from compressions degrades rapidly once CPR stops.

Question 10

An AED is available for an infant victim under 1 year of age. No manual defibrillator is present. Which statement reflects AHA BLS guidance?

TheoryPractice · Accepted Answer

Use a manual defibrillator if available; if not, use an AED with a pediatric dose attenuator; if neither is available, use an adult AED. AHA guidelines state the preference order for infants is a manual defibrillator, then an AED with a dose-attenuating system, and finally an adult AED if no other option exists, because early defibrillation is preferable to no defibrillation.

BLS Exam Questions & Answers 2026 (21–30)

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