6.1 Adult and Pediatric BLS Exam Prep Guide

This guide reviews the core concepts of Basic Life Support (BLS) to help you prepare for your exam. Understanding these steps ensures you can act confidently during cardiac arrest situations, airway obstructions, and other life-threatening emergencies.

Scene Safety & Initial Assessment

Before performing CPR or using an AED, you must assess the situation to ensure both your safety and the victim’s.

• Check for scene safety: Look for hazards like electrical wires, fire, or traffic.
• Assess the victim: Approach cautiously and determine if they are responsive.
• Check for responsiveness:
  • Adult/Child: Tap the shoulder and shout, “Are you okay?”
  • Infant: Tap the foot and shout.
• Observe for normal breathing: Look, listen, and feel for breath movement. Do not take more than 10 seconds.
• Activate Emergency Response: If the victim is unresponsive and not breathing normally, call 911 or direct someone else to do so.

Pulse Check

Healthcare providers must check for a pulse in unresponsive victims to determine if CPR is necessary. If you are unsure or cannot feel a pulse within 10 seconds, begin chest compressions immediately.

Age Group	Pulse Check Location	Action If No Pulse (or unsure)
Adult/Child	Carotid artery (neck)	Begin CPR immediately
Infant	Brachial artery (inside upper arm)	Begin CPR immediately

High-Quality Chest Compressions

Chest compressions are the foundation of effective CPR. High-quality compressions improve survival rates by restoring blood flow to the brain and heart.

• Compression rate: 100–120 compressions per minute.
• Depth:
  • Adults: At least 2 inches (5 cm).
  • Children: At least 1/3 of the chest depth (~2 inches or 5 cm).
  • Infants: At least 1/3 of the chest depth (~1.5 inches or 4 cm).
• Allow full chest recoil: Let the chest return to its normal position after each compression.
• Minimize interruptions: Pauses between compressions should be less than 10 seconds.

Rescue Breathing & Ventilation

If a victim has a pulse but is not breathing normally, perform rescue breathing. Each breath should be delivered slowly over 1 second, making the chest visibly rise.

Age Group	Breathing Rate
Adult	1 breath every 5-6 seconds (10-12 breaths per minute)
Child/Infant	1 breath every 3-5 seconds (12-20 breaths per minute)

Compression-to-Ventilation Ratios

The compression-to-ventilation ratio varies based on the number of rescuers and the victim's age.

Scenario	Adult	Child & Infant
Single Rescuer	30:2	30:2
Two Rescuers	30:2	15:2

AED Use

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can analyze the heart rhythm and deliver a shock if needed.

• Turn on the AED and follow voice prompts.
• Attach pads based on age group:
  • Adults: One pad on the upper right chest, the other on the lower left side.
  • Children under 8: Use pediatric pads if available.
  • Infants: Place one pad on the chest and one on the back.
• Ensure no one is touching the victim before delivering a shock.
• After the shock (or if no shock is advised), resume CPR immediately.

Special Situations

Choking (Airway Obstruction)

Obstructed airways require immediate intervention to prevent suffocation.

Victim	Conscious	Unconscious
Adult/Child	Perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver)	Begin CPR immediately
Infant	5 back slaps, then 5 chest thrusts	Begin CPR immediately

Drowning

• Provide rescue breaths first before starting chest compressions.
• Remove wet clothing and dry the chest before using an AED.

Pregnant Victims

• Perform compressions slightly higher on the sternum.
• If advanced pregnancy, manually displace the uterus to the left to improve circulation.

Opioid Overdose

• Administer naloxone (Narcan) if available.
• If unresponsive, begin CPR immediately.