4.1 Adult BLS Exam Prep Guide

Before you take your Certification Exam, make sure you’re confident in these core life-saving skills. This guide highlights the most critical CPR & AED concepts, ensuring you’re fully prepared to pass your exam and respond effectively in an emergency.

Checking for Responsiveness & Breathing

• Tap the victim and shout, “Are you okay?”
• If no response, check for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds.
• If the person is not breathing or only gasping, call 911 and start CPR immediately.

High-Quality Chest Compressions

• Compression Rate: 100–120 compressions per minute
• Allow full chest recoil between compressions
• Minimize interruptions—limit pauses to less than 10 seconds

Age Group	Compression Depth
Adults	At least 2 inches (5 cm)
Children	About 2 inches (5 cm) or 1/3 chest depth
Infants	About 1.5 inches (4 cm) or 1/3 chest depth

Rescue Breathing & Ventilation

• If the victim has a pulse but is not breathing, provide rescue breaths
• Each breath should last 1 second and make the chest visibly rise

Patient Type	Rescue Breathing Rate
Adults	1 breath every 5–6 seconds (10–12 per minute)
Children/Infants	1 breath every 3–5 seconds (12–20 per minute)

If no pulse develops, begin CPR immediately (30:2 compression-to-ventilation ratio).

Compression-to-Ventilation Ratios

Scenario	Ratio
Single Rescuer (All Ages)	30:2
Two Rescuers (Children/Infants)	15:2
Advanced Airway in Place	Continuous compressions + 1 breath every 6 seconds

• Two-Rescuer CPR: One rescuer performs compressions, the other provides ventilations
• Switch roles every 2 minutes (or 5 cycles of 30:2) to prevent fatigue

AED (Automated External Defibrillator) Use

• Turn on the AED and follow voice prompts
• Attach pads to the victim’s bare chest

Age Group	Pad Placement
Adults	Upper right chest & lower left side
Children (under 8)	Use pediatric pads; same placement if pads fit
Infants (if no pediatric pads)	One pad on chest, one on back

• Ensure no one is touching the victim before delivering a shock
• After the shock (or if no shock is advised), immediately resume CPR

Choking Emergencies

• Adults & Children: Perform abdominal thrusts (Heimlich)
• Infants: Deliver 5 back slaps followed by 5 chest thrusts
• If the victim becomes unresponsive, begin CPR immediately
• Pregnant or Obese Victims: Perform chest thrusts instead of abdominal thrusts

Special Situations

Situation	Modified Action
Drowning	Give 2 rescue breaths before compressions
Pregnancy	Shift compressions higher; displace uterus leftward
Opioid Overdose	Administer naloxone (if available), then begin CPR