Take the free BLS Pretest provided below in order to prepare you for our

official BLS online exam. The practice exam consists of 10 multiple-choice

questions that are derived from the BLS provider manual and adhere to the
latest AHA and ECC guidelines. Correct answers & explanations will be
shown once the practice test is submitted.
1. Signs of airway obstruction include which of the following?
Poor air exchange

Inability to speak

High-pitched noise while inhaling

All of the above

Answer Explanation
Poor airway exchange results in impaired ventilation and may be a sign
of airway obstruction.
High pitched noise while inhaling, called stridor, is a sign of upper
airway impairment and may represent a partial airway obstruction.
Speech requires movement of air across the vocal cords. An airway
obstruction will prevent this air movement and therefore speech.
All of the above represent signs of possible airway obstruction.

2. The compression to ventilation ratio for the lone rescuer giving CPR to
victims of ANY age is:
15:2

30:2

30:1

10:1

Answer Explanation
10:1 is not a correct compression to ventilation ratio and will result in
inadequate perfusion.
30:1 is not a correct ratio and will result in inadequate ventilation.
30:2 is the AHA expert consensus for the correct ratio of compressions
to ventilations.
15:2 is not the correct ratio for compressions to ventilations in single
rescuer CPR.
3. In an adult with an advanced airway in place during 2-rescuer CPR,
breaths should be administered how often?
Every 10 to 12 seconds ( 5 to 6 breaths per minute)

Every 4 to 5 seconds ( 12 to 15 breaths per minute)

Every 6 to 8 seconds ( 8 to 10 breaths per minute)

Every 2 to 3 seconds ( 20 to 30 breaths per minute)

Answer Explanation
Twenty to thirty breaths per minute will result in hyperventilation which
impedes return of spontaneous circulation.
One breath every 4 to 5 seconds will result in hyperventilation and is
faster than the AHA guidelines recommend.
One breath every 6 to 8 seconds results in 8 to 10 breaths per minute,
and is the correct ventilation rate for an adult victim with an advanced
airway.
One breath every 10 to 12 seconds is slower than AHA guidelines
recommend.
4. The 5 links in the adult Chain of Survival include all of the following
EXCEPT:
Advanced airway placement

Integrated Post-Cardiac Arrest Care

Rapid Defibrillation

Early CPR

Answer Explanation
Early CPR provides vital oxygen to the brain and vital organs increasing
the likelihood of recovery.
Rapid defibrillation increases the chance of effectively restoring a
normal heart rhythm.
Advanced airway placement is not part of the BLS adult chain of
survival.
Post cardiac arrest care reduces the possibility of long-term impairment
and increases the chance of a victim making a full recovery.
5. The initial Basic Life Support (BLS) steps for adults are:
Assess the victim, activate EMS and get AED, check pulse, start
CPR
Assess the victim, start CPR, give 2 rescue breaths, defibrillate

Assess the victim, give 2 rescue breaths, defibrillate, start CPR

Check pulse, give rescue breaths, assess the victim, defibrillate

Answer Explanation
The 2010 AHA guidelines recommend starting CPR before initiating
rescue breathing.
Assessing the victim, activating EMS, rapid use of an AED, checking
pulse, and beginning CPR is the correct sequence of events for BLS.
The 2010 AHA guidelines recommend initiating CPR prior to giving
rescue breaths, and this sequence does not activate EMS.
This sequence fails to activate EMS.
6. How often should rescuers switch roles when performing 2-rescuer
CPR?
After every 5 cycles of CPR

After every 10 cycles of CPR

After every 2 cycles of CPR

After every cycle of CPR

Answer Explanation

Changing roles after every cycle of CPR will create too many
interruptions and impair successful resuscitation.
Changing roles after every 2 cycles of CPR will create frequent
interruptions in perfusion and is not consistent with AHA
recommendations.
Changing roles after every 5 cycles of CPR is the currently
recommended frequency to promote high quality CPR.
CPR is physically demanding and waiting to switch roles every 10
cycles will likely fatigue the rescuer performing chest compressions
resulting in lower quality CPR.
7. The proper steps for operating an AED are:
Power on the AED, attach electrode pads, shock the patient,
analyze the rhythm
Check pulse, attach electrode pads, analyze rhythm, shock patient

Power on the AED, attach electode pads, analyze the rhythm, clear
the patient, deliver shock
Attach electrode pads, check pulse, shock patient, analyze rhythm

Answer Explanation
The patient must be analyzed before the AED will advise a shock

This represents the correct steps for operating an AED.

The rhythm must be analyzed before the AED will advise a shock. A
pulse check should have been done prior to attaching the AED and is
not part of AED operation.
This sequence does not begin with powering on the AED.
8. The 2010 AHA Guidelines for CPR recommended BLS sequence of
steps are:
Chest compressions, Airway, Breathing

None of the above

Airway, Breathing, Check Pulse

Airway, Breathing, Chest Compressions

Answer Explanation
The 2010 guidelines recommend beginning with chest compressions to
perfuse the brain, heart and other organs as soon as possible.
The AHA no longer recommends beginning with Airway as it delays
initiation of chest compressions.
The AHA changed from A, B, C to C, A, B in 2010 to emphasize the
importance of early chest compressions in successful resuscitation.

None of the above is incorrect.

9. Where should you attempt to perform a pulse check in a child from 1
year of age to puberty?
Brachial artery

Carotid or Femoral artery

Temporal artery

Ulnar artery

Answer Explanation
The brachial artery located on the upper arm is used in infants below 1
year old.
The ulnar artery is not used to perform pulse checks in BLS.
The temporal artery is not used to perform pulse checks in BLS.
The carotid and femoral arteries are used to perform pulse checks in
BLS on children from 1 year of age to puberty.
10. The critical characteristics of high-quality CPR include which of the
following?
Minimize interruptions

Push hard and fast

All of the above

Starting chest compressions within 10 seconds of recognition of

cardiac arrest
Answer Explanation
Minimizing interruption of circulation by quickly recognizing cardiac
arrest and beginning CPR is an important characteristic of high-quality
CPR and is emphasized by the AHA guidelines.
Pushing hard enough to compress the heart and squeeze blood out,
and fast enough to raise blood pressure is a vital characteristic of highquality CPR and is emphasized in the 2010 AHA guidelines.
Minimizing interruptions in CPR keeps blood pressure high enough to
perfuse vital organs including the heart and brain and is critical to
improving outcomes in cardiac arrest.