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. Regarding BLS in adults which one of the following statements is incorrect:

a) Expired air contains approximately 4% carbon dioxide

b) The correct location for cardiac compression is over the lower 1/2 of the sternum

c) Head tilt is contraindicated in suspected cervical spine injury

d) Initially 5 breaths should be given

2 breaths should be given initially. Old BLS guidelines advocated 5 initial breaths.

2 breaths should be given initially. Old BLS guidelines advocated 5 initial breaths.

2 / 15

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

a) 30 seconds

b) 60 seconds

c) 90 seconds

d) 15 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.

3 / 15

3. In relation to palpation of the pulse during cardiac arrest, which one of the following statements is incorrect:

a) It can be felt every minute during cardiac arrest

b) It should be analysed for 10 seconds in normothermic patients

c) It does not need to be checked whilst performing CPR

d) The femoral or brachial pulse should be palpated in infants

The pulse can be palpated as often as you like during CPR, however stopping CPR to perform a rhythm check should only occur 2 minutes after each intervention in ACLS, and not at all in BLS. The rhythm should be analysed for no longer than 10 seconds in normothermic patients, and 5 seconds is usually plenty.

The pulse can be palpated as often as you like during CPR, however stopping CPR to perform a rhythm check should only occur 2 minutes after each intervention in ACLS, and not at all in BLS. The rhythm should be analysed for no longer than 10 seconds in normothermic patients, and 5 seconds is usually plenty.

4 / 15

4. Regarding endotracheal drug delivery which one of the following statements is incorrect:

a) 5 - 10 forceful ventilations should be given following endotracheal drug delivery

b) Amiodarone may be delivered via the endotracheal tube

c) Endotracheal drug delivery delivers a significant decrease & delay in peak serum levels compared with IV administration

d) It should only be used if IV access is unable to be obtained after 5 minutes

Amiodarone cannot be given via ETT.

Amiodarone cannot be given via ETT.

5 / 15

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

a) 95%

b) 30%

c) 70%

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%.

6 / 15

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

a) 10 minutes

b) 12 minutes

c) 7 minutes

d) 4 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.

7 / 15

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

a) Amiodarone and lignocaine are similarly effective

b) Amiodarone and lignocaine are highly effective

c) Lignocaine is superior to amiodarone

d) Amiodarone is superior to lignocaine

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.

8 / 15

8. Regarding cardiac arrest in severe hypothermia which one of the following is incorrect:

a) The pulse should be felt for 30 seconds before deciding it is absent

b) Anti-arrhthymic drugs are usually ineffective in severe hypothermia

c) Active core rewarming techniques should be used until body temperature exceeds 31 C before defibrillation should be attempted

d) Oxygen consumption is much lower in the hypothermic patient and therefore may be able to survive a more prolonged arrest than a normothermic patient

Initial defibrillation should be attempted at any temperature, but if unsuccessful, active core rewarming techniques should be used until body temperature exceeds 30 degrees then recommence defibrillation as required.

Initial defibrillation should be attempted at any temperature, but if unsuccessful, active core rewarming techniques should be used until body temperature exceeds 30 degrees then recommence defibrillation as required

9 / 15

9. In an adult patient with witnessed, monitored, in hospital cardiac arrest due to VF which one of the following strategies is most likely to obtain ROSC?

a) CPR until defibrillator ready, 3 stacked shocks, then 2 minutes of CPR if ineffective

b) 2 minutes of CPR then defibrillation

c) 3 stacked shocks, 1mg adrenaline then 2 minutes of CPR if ineffective

d) Immediate single defibrillation, then 2 minutes of CPR if ineffective

In an adult patient with witnessed, monitored, in hospital cardiac arrest due to VF, CPR until defibrillator ready, 3 stacked shocks, then 2 minutes of CPR if ineffective is the strategy most likely to obtain ROSC. According to ILCOR guidelines (as of 2025) this strategy should be considered, but evidence suggests it is superior to the out of hospital cardiac arrest algorithm.

In an adult patient with witnessed, monitored, in hospital cardiac arrest due to VF, CPR until defibrillator ready, 3 stacked shocks, then 2 minutes of CPR if ineffective is the strategy most likely to obtain ROSC. According to ILCOR guidelines (as of 2025) this strategy should be considered, but evidence suggests it is superior to the out of hospital cardiac arrest algorithm.

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10. In adult cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm adrenaline should first be given

a) 6 minutes after CPR has commenced

b) Immediately on recognition of cardiac arrest

c) 4 minutes after CPR has commenced

d) 2 minutes after CPR has commenced

In adult cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm adrenaline should first be given 2 minutes after CPR has commenced.

In adult cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm adrenaline should first be given 2 minutes after CPR has commenced.

11 / 15

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

a) 2:1

b) 1:2

c) 1.5:1

d) 1:1

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.

12 / 15

12. Regarding cardiac arrest following poisoning which one of the following statements is incorrect:

a) Diazepam and adrenaline are antidotes for chloroquine toxicity

b) Naloxone is an antidote for clonidine toxicity

c) HCO3 therapy may be indicated

d) The prognosis for most patients with poisoning is worse than that of older patients with cardiogenic cardiac arrest

13 / 15

13. In adult cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm the second dose of adrenaline should be given at

a) 4 minutes after CPR has commenced

b) 8 minutes after CPR has commenced

c) 2 minutes after CPR has commenced

d) 6 minutes after CPR has commenced

In adult cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm the second dose of adrenaline should be given at 6 minutes after CPR has commenced.

In adult cardiac arrest with a shockable rhythm the second dose of adrenaline should be given at 6 minutes after CPR has commenced.

14 / 15

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

1. Adrenaline

2. Atropine

3. Amiodarone

4. Lignocaine

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

15 / 15

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

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

b) Compression should comprise 50% of the cycle

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

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

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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