Basic Life Support (BLS)

Question 1

What is the most common cause of cardiorespiratory arrest in children?

Answer 1

respiratory problems leading to prolonged hypoxaemia e.g. birth asphyxia, inhalation of foreign body, acute asthma or bronchiolitis.

Question 2

How do you manage an airway of a <1 year old patient?

Answer 2

Aim for the neutral position due to the relatively short fat necks

Question 3

When would a jaw thrust be implemented?

Answer 3

If there is a suspected neck injury

Question 4

How do you deliver chest compressions in an infant?

Answer 4

The most effective position with two BLS providers present is the hand encircling technique. The rescuers hands are placed around the lower half of the infants sternum and compressions are carried out with the thumbs. If only one provider two finger technique should be used with the other hand stabilising the infants head

Question 5

How do you deliver chest compressions in children?

Answer 5

For children, the rescuer should use the heel of their hand over the lower half of the sternum. The arm should remain straight and chest should be compressed to 1/3 of the depth. For larger children or small rescuers two hands can be used one on top of the other with fingers interlocked to perform the compressions.

Question 6

To what ratio should chest compressions be delivered?

Answer 6

15 compressions to 2 ventilations

Question 7

What is the compression rate during BLS in children?

Answer 7

100-120 per minute