New life support quiz – The Emergency Medicine Manual

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Created on November 16, 2025 By Bob Dunn

Life support

BLS and ALS

1 / 15

1. Which one of the following statements is incorrect

a) An appropriate minute volume for a patient in cardiac arrest is 4 litres / min

b) An appropriate respiratory rate for a patient in cardiac arrest is 8/min

c) An appropriate tidal volume for a patient in cardiac arrest is 500mL

d) The resting O2 consumption in an adult is 250 mL/min

2 / 15

2. Which one of the following is the most important in the treatment of cardiac arrest

a) Adequate ventilation

b) Delivery of supplemental oxygen

c) Effective cardiac compression

d) Therapeutic hypothermia

Effective cardiac compression to maintain coronary perfusion is the most important of the choices given. Oxygenation is important, however coronary perfusion of poorly oxygenated blood is still better than no coronary perfusion of highly oxygenated blood. Ventilation is usually only required to maintain oxygenation, whilst restoration of normal acid base status is probably of no benefit and possibly harmful. Hypothermia may have a role to play following ROSC from ventricular fibrillation, but is never an initial priority.

Effective cardiac compression to maintain coronary perfusion is the most important of the choices given. Oxygenation is important, however coronary perfusion of poorly oxygenated blood is still better than no coronary perfusion of highly oxygenated blood. Ventilation is usually only required to maintain oxygenation, whilst restoration of normal acid base status is probably of no benefit and possibly harmful. Hypothermia may have a role to play following ROSC from ventricular fibrillation, but is never an initial priority.

3 / 15

3. Common causes of spurious rhythms may include all of the following except:

a) Very fine VF can be misinterpreted as asystole

b) Coarse Parkinsonian tremor can mimic atrial flutter

c) Shivering may mimic ventricular fibrillation

d) Deep breathing may mimic complete heart block

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4. In advanced prehospital systems such as Australia and New Zealand, the median time to defibrillation for shockable rhythms is approximately

a) 10 minutes

b) 4 minutes

c) 12 minutes

d) 7 minutes

In advanced prehospital systems such as Australia and New Zealand, the median time to defibrillation for shockable rhythms is approximately 7 minutes. This means there is significant organ hypoxia and acidosis that is not present in in hospital witnessed cardiac arrests.

In advanced prehospital systems such as Australia and New Zealand, the median time to defibrillation for shockable rhythms is approximately 7 minutes. This means there is significant organ hypoxia and acidosis that is not present in in hospital witnessed cardiac arrests.

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5. Which one of the following statements is indicative of the correct CPR technique in an adult:

a) The depth of compression should be approximately 1/5 of the thoracic diameter

b) The ventilation : compression ratio should be 2:5

c) Compression should comprise 50% of the cycle

d) The rate of compression should be at least 80/min in adults

Depth of compression should be 5 – 6cm (>1/3 of the thoracic diameter). Ventilation compression ratio should be 2:30. The compression rate should be 100-120/min.

Depth of compression should be 5 – 6cm (>1/3 of the thoracic diameter). Ventilation compression ratio should be 2:30. The compression rate should be 100-120/min.

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6. The preferred initial sequence of management of pulseless electrical activity is which one of the following:

a) Commence CPR / obtain IV access / administer atropine 1mg / check for treatable causes / perform endotracheal intubation / administer adrenaline every 4 minutes

b) Check for treatable causes / commence CPR / obtain IV access / perform endotracheal intubation / administer adrenaline 1mg / repeat adrenaline every 4 minutes

c) Commence CPR / obtain IV access / administer adrenaline 1mg /check for treatable causes / repeat adrenaline every 4 minutes/ perform endotracheal intubation

d) Obtain IV access / perform endotracheal intubation / commence CPR / administer adrenaline 1mg / repeat adrenaline every 4 minutes / check for treatable causes

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7. Which one of the following statements regarding drug therapy in ALS for shockable rhythms is correct

a) Amiodarone and lignocaine are highly effective

b) Lignocaine is superior to amiodarone

c) Amiodarone is superior to lignocaine

d) Amiodarone and lignocaine are similarly effective

In shockable rhythms that have failed defibrillation attempts and adrenaline, lignocaine and amiodarone are considered of equal (but low) effectiveness.

In shockable rhythms that have failed defibrillation attempts and adrenaline, lignocaine and amiodarone are considered of equal (but low) effectiveness.

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8. The effectiveness of a single 200J biphasic defibrillation in an adult with VF when delivered within 30 seconds of VF onset is approximately

a) 70%

b) 95%

c) 30%

d) 50%

The effectiveness of a single 200J biphasic defibrillation in an adult with VF when delivered within 30 seconds of VF onset is approximately 95%.

The effectiveness of a single 200J biphasic defibrillation in an adult with VF when delivered within 30 seconds of VF onset is approximately 95%.

9 / 15

9. The appropriate compression : relaxation ratio for chest compressions in BLS in adults is

a) 2:1

b) 1:1

c) 1.5:1

d) 1:2

The appropriate compression : relaxation ratio for chest compressions in BLS in adults is 1:1.

The appropriate compression : relaxation ratio for chest compressions in BLS in adults is 1:1.

10 / 15

10. The preferred initial sequence of management of asystole is which one of the following:

a) Obtain IV access / perform endotracheal intubation / commence CPR / administer adrenaline 1mg / repeat adrenaline every 2 minutes

b) Commence CPR / obtain IV access / administer adrenaline 2mg / perform endotracheal intubation /repeat adrenaline every 2 minutes

c) Commence CPR / obtain IV access / perform endotracheal intubation / administer atropine 1mg / administer adrenaline every 2 minutes

d) Commence CPR / obtain IV access / administer adrenaline 1mg / repeat adrenaline every 2 minutes/perform endotracheal intubation

Early intubation is most likely harmful as some interruption of CPR is usually required. It is best deferred until the patient fails to respond to initial CPR and defibrillation attempts or demonstrates ROSC. Chest compressions should only be ceased at the time the intubator is about to insert the laryngoscope into the patient’s mouth and intubation should be achieved within 10 seconds. The initial dose of adrenaline is 1mg, repeated every 2 minutes.

Early intubation is most likely harmful as some interruption of CPR is usually required. It is best deferred until the patient fails to respond to initial CPR and defibrillation attempts or demonstrates ROSC. Chest compressions should only be ceased at the time the intubator is about to insert the laryngoscope into the patient’s mouth and intubation should be achieved within 10 seconds. The initial dose of adrenaline is 1mg, repeated every 2 minutes.

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11. The actual correct management sequence of BLS in cardiac arrest is as follows

a) DRSABC

b) DABRCS

c) SDRABC

d) DRSCAB

The actual correct sequence is Danger Response Send for help Compressions Airway Breathing. The ‘S’ was added in 2011 but unfortunately the ‘ABC’ sequence was not changed in the acronym did not change from DRSABC as this was thought to be potentially confusing for people already familiar with the ‘ABC’ sequence.

The actual correct sequence is Danger Response Send for help Compressions Airway Breathing. The ‘S’ was added in 2011 but unfortunately the ‘ABC’ sequence was not changed in the acronym did not change from DRSABC as this was thought to be potentially confusing for people already familiar with the ‘ABC’ sequence.

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12. In adult cardiac arrest due to VF unresponsive to standard BLS/ALS treatment, which one of the following is most likely to be of benefit

a) Empiric K+

b) High dose adrenaline

c) Empiric HCO3

d) Vector change defibrillation

In adult cardiac arrest due to VF unresponsive to standard BLS/ALS treatment, vector change defibrillation is most likely to be of benefit - although limited. The other treatments are all associated with even worse outcomes than expected.

In adult cardiac arrest due to VF unresponsive to standard BLS/ALS treatment, vector change defibrillation is most likely to be of benefit - although limited. The other treatments are all associated with even worse outcomes than expected.

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13. The estimated circulation time of drugs given in cardiac arrest with CPR in progress is

a) 30 seconds

b) 15 seconds

c) 60 seconds

d) 90 seconds

The estimated circulation time of drugs given in cardiac arrest is about 90 seconds with CPR in progress.

The estimated circulation time of drugs given in cardiac arrest is about 90 seconds with CPR in progress.

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14. During CPR, the effectiveness of the operator performing chest compression usually starts to reduce between

a) 1-2 min

b) 3-4 min

c) 2-3 min

d) 0-1 min

A 10-20% reduction in compression depth occurs by 90 sec., despite operators not necessarily feeling fatigued. This is the reason that changing operators at least every 2 minutes (usually at the time of rhythm check) is required.

A 10-20% reduction in compression depth occurs by 90 sec., despite operators not necessarily feeling fatigued. This is the reason that changing operators at least every 2 minutes (usually at the time of rhythm check) is required.

15 / 15

15. Match the drug doses with the following agents used in paediatric cardiac arrest

1. Lignocaine

2. Amiodarone

3. Adrenaline

4. Atropine

The correct paediatric doses are:
Adrenaline 10 microg/kg
Atropine 20 microg/kg
Amiodarone 5mg/kg
Lignocaine 1 mg/kg

The correct paediatric doses are:
Adrenaline 10 microg/kg
Atropine 20 microg/kg
Amiodarone 5mg/kg
Lignocaine 1 mg/kg

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