Review questions: CPR

376. When two health care providers are present, what is the compression to ventilation ratio for a child victim of cardiac arrest?

The compression to ventilation ratio for a child is 15:2.

377. A single rescuer is performing CPR on an unresponsive infant that is pulseless and apneic.  What is the correct depth of chest compression on an infant?

The rescuer should compress the chest at least 1/3 the AP depth or about 1½ inches (4 cm)

378.  You are a health care provider who was called to the scene of a child who suddenly collapsed.  After determining the child is unresponsive and not breathing, you check for a pulse on the child.  Where would you perform a pulse check and how long should it take you?

On an unresponsive child, you would check for a carotid pulse and it should take you no longer than 10 seconds to perform the pulse check.

379.  When is it acceptable to use a precordial thump?

The precordial thump should not be used for unwitnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The precordial thump may be considered for patients with witnessed, monitored, unstable ventricular tachycardia including pulseless VT if a defibrillator is not immediately ready for use.

380. How does "compressions only" CPR provide oxygen to the victim of a cardiac arrest?

Chest compressions cause air to be expelled from the chest and oxygen to be drawn into the chest passively due to the elastic recoil of the chest.  In theory, because ventilation requirements are lower than normal during cardiac arrest, oxygen supplied by passive delivery is likely to be sufficient for several minutes after onset of cardiac arrest with a patent upper airway.


Reviewed 2/28/16