Mandatory Training: Basic Life Support Theory and Practical

Question 1

What should you always do when providing basic life support for a pregnant woman?

Answer 1

You should provide a left lateral tilt (elevate the right hip).

Question 2

What is the purpose of a left lateral tilt when providing basic life support for a pregnant woman?

Answer 2

This takes the pressure caused by the baby off the vena cava allowing for good venous return.

Question 3

What is the vena cava?

Answer 3

A large vein attached directly to the heart.

Question 4

What is venous return?

Answer 4

The rate of blood flow back to the heart.

Question 5

When providing basic life support to a pregnant woman, what is the other major consideration besides the need to provide a left lateral tilt?

Answer 5

Pregnant women have a greater risk of aspiration and regurgitation.

Question 6

What are 3 ways to manage the risk of aspiration and regurgitation when providing basic life support to a pregnant woman?

Answer 6

1. Check the airway
2. Ensure compressions are not performed too low
3. Tilt the head to the side to avoid vomit from entering the airway

Question 7

How do the depth and force of compressions for basic life support for an infant/young child compare to that of adults?

Answer 7

The ratio/proportion of force required is the same, relative to the size of the child.

Question 8

What is a special consideration about the airway when providing basic life support to an infant?

Answer 8

You should not tilt the head of an infant to the side as this will obstruct the airway.

Question 9

What should be done for compressions in basic life support for an infant?

Answer 9

You should start with two fingers for your compression

Question 10

What should be done for compressions in basic life support for a small child?

Answer 10

You should start with one hand for your compressions.

Question 11

What are the 3 key points to remember when providing compressions for basic life support?

Answer 11

1. Compressions should be one third of the chest depth
2. Compressions should be done at 100 beats per minute
3. Every 30 compressions should be followed by 2 breaths

Question 12

What is the most important thing to do if a patient is choking?

Answer 12

Reassure them and encourage them to cough if they have an effective cough.

Question 13

What should be done if a patient has an ineffective cough when they are choking?

Answer 13

We use up to 5 ‘back blows’, checking the airway between each blow.

Question 14

If the obstruction in an airway cannot be cleared by 5 back blows, what should be done?

Answer 14

Use a chest thrust technique (very similar to a compression) up to 5 times, checking after each thrust to see if the obstruction has become dislodged.

Question 15

What should be done if a choking patient becomes unresponsive?

Answer 15

Ensure the patient is flat and commence CPR straight away.

Question 16

What are the 7 steps in the ANZCOR Basic Life Support flowchart?

Answer 16

D – Dangers? 
R – Responsive? 
S – Send for help
A – Open Airway
B – Normal Breathing? 
C – Start CPR
D – Attach Defibrillator (AED) as soon as possible, follow prompts

Question 17

How long should CPR be continued for?

Answer 17

Until responsiveness and/or normal breathing return(s).

Question 18

What are two ways to determine if a patient is responsive before commencing CPR?

Answer 18

1. Speak to the person

2. Touch the person

Question 19

If a patient is not responsive after you have spoken to them and touched them, what should you do?

Answer 19

Grasp and squeeze the shoulders firmly to see if you can elicit a response.

Question 20

What should you do to check that an airway is clear?

Answer 20

Use the head tilt and chin lift technique.

Question 21

Should CPR be continued while defibrillator pads are being applied to the patient’s bare chest?

Answer 21

Yes

Question 22

Can the patient be touched during rhythm assessment and shock delivery in CPR?

Answer 22

No

Question 23

If shock is advised in CPR, what must the operator do?

Answer 23

Visually check the patient’s surroundings are all clear then state “Stand clear, I’m about to shock” prior to shock delivery.

Question 24

What should be done after a shock has been delivered by a defibrillator?

Answer 24

Keep the AED turned on and pads attached. Continue CPR until the person responds or begins to breathe normally or help arrives to take control.

Question 25

If a patient shows a minor response such as groaning without opening their eyes, are they deemed as responsive or unresponsive?

Answer 25

Unresponsive.

Question 26

What is the number you should call to activate a code blue in hospital?

Answer 26

33#

Question 27

What are the 3 ways in which you should check for normal breathing as part of basic life support?

Answer 27

1. Look
2. Listen
3. Feel

Question 28

If a patient is breathing normally but unresponsive, what should you do?

Answer 28

Place them in the recovery position and continually reassess their condition.

Question 29

Where should the two defibrillator pads be placed?

Answer 29

One pad should be placed beneath the right collarbone and one towards the bottom of the left ribs.

Question 30

What are the 5 required components of documentation following basic life support?

Answer 30

1. Time of initial event
2. Description of initial event
3. If witnessed event
4. Vital signs recorded every 1 minute and if changes occur or as per your Local Health Network (LHN) guideline or policy
5. Time when Code Blue/Medical Emergency Team or ambulance arrives