NREMT Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Cognitive ExamCardiology & ResuscitationEasy
A 55-year-old female suddenly collapses at a restaurant. Bystanders state she was eating and then clutched her chest before falling. She is unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless. What is the MOST appropriate initial action?
- ABegin chest compressions immediately.
- BCheck for a carotid pulse for 10 seconds.
- CPerform a head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver and attempt to ventilate.
- DAdminister two rescue breaths.
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: A. Begin chest compressions immediately.
In an unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless adult, the priority is to initiate high-quality chest compressions immediately to maintain vital organ perfusion, as per current CPR guidelines.
Why the other options are wrong
- B. Pulse checks should be brief (no more than 10 seconds) and are often unreliable. If no pulse is obvious or quickly confirmed, compressions should begin.
- C. While airway management is important, compressions are prioritized first in pulseless patients.
- D. Rescue breaths alone are insufficient for a pulseless patient; compressions are paramount.
Adult CPR Initial Action
The very first intervention for an unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless adult patient.
- Prioritize chest compressions over ventilations initially.
- Compressions should be at least 2 inches deep and 100-120/min.
- Minimize interruptions to compressions.
Memory trick: Push hard, push fast, save a life that's passed.