Adult CPR & AED: Exam Prep Guide

4.1 Adult BLS Exam Prep Guide

Before you take your Certification Exam, make sure you’re confident in these core life-saving skills. This guide highlights the most critical CPR & AED concepts, ensuring you’re fully prepared to pass your exam and respond effectively in an emergency.

Checking for Responsiveness & Breathing

  • Tap the victim and shout, “Are you okay?”
  • If no response, check for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds.
  • If the person is not breathing or only gasping, call 911 and start CPR immediately.

High-Quality Chest Compressions

  • Compression Rate: 100–120 compressions per minute
  • Allow full chest recoil between compressions
  • Minimize interruptions—limit pauses to less than 10 seconds
Age Group Compression Depth
Adults At least 2 inches (5 cm)
Children About 2 inches (5 cm) or 1/3 chest depth
Infants About 1.5 inches (4 cm) or 1/3 chest depth

Rescue Breathing & Ventilation

  • If the victim has a pulse but is not breathing, provide rescue breaths
  • Each breath should last 1 second and make the chest visibly rise
Patient Type Rescue Breathing Rate
Adults 1 breath every 5–6 seconds (10–12 per minute)
Children/Infants 1 breath every 3–5 seconds (12–20 per minute)

If no pulse develops, begin CPR immediately (30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio).

Compression-to-Ventilation Ratios

Scenario Ratio
Single Rescuer (All Ages) 30:2
Two Rescuers (Children/Infants) 15:2
Advanced Airway in Place Continuous compressions + 1 breath every 6 seconds
  • Two-Rescuer CPR: One rescuer performs compressions, the other provides ventilations
  • Switch roles every 2 minutes (or 5 cycles of 30:2) to prevent fatigue

AED (Automated External Defibrillator) Use

  • Turn on the AED and follow voice prompts
  • Attach pads to the victim’s bare chest
Age Group Pad Placement
Adults Upper right chest & lower left side
Children (under 8) Use pediatric pads; same placement if pads fit
Infants (if no pediatric pads) One pad on chest, one on back
  • Ensure no one is touching the victim before delivering a shock
  • After the shock (or if no shock is advised), immediately resume CPR

Choking Emergencies

  • Adults & Children: Perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich)
  • Infants: Deliver 5 back slaps followed by 5 chest thrusts
  • If the victim becomes unresponsive, begin CPR immediately
  • Pregnant or Obese Victims: Perform chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts

Special Situations

Situation Modified Action
Drowning Give 2 rescue breaths before compressions
Pregnancy Shift compressions higher; displace uterus leftward
Opioid Overdose Administer naloxone (if available), then begin CPR