PALS Chapter 3 Basic Life Support Practice Test 2025

Last Updated on May 10, 2025

Pediatric Advanced Life Support PALS Chapter 3 Basic Life Support Practice Test 2025 Questions and Answers Quiz. According to the handbook, all PALS providers are assumed to be able to perform BLS appropriately. PALS providers must first be proficient in BLS. High-quality BLS is the foundation of PALS.

Basic Life Support (BLS) utilizes CPR and cardiac defibrillation when an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is available. BLS is the life support method with limited access to advanced interventions such as medications and monitoring devices. Generally, BLS is performed until the emergency medical services (EMS) arrive to provide a higher level of care.

High-quality CPR is the foundation of BLS and PALS interventions in every setting. High-quality CPR gives the child or infant the best chance of survival by circulating to the heart, brain, and other organs until spontaneous circulation (ROSC) is restored.

PALS Basic Life Support Practice Test

PALS Practice Test
Chapter 3: Basic Life Support
Total Items: 20 MCQs
Time Limit: N/A

1 / 20

1) When providing CPR to an infant alone, how many compressions and breaths should you give?

A) 5 compressions and 1 breath

B) 20 compressions and 2 breaths

C) 30 compressions and 2 breaths

D) 15 compressions and 2 breaths

2 / 20

2) What is the correct compression to ventilation ratio for one-rescuer BLS in a child?

A) 30:2

B) 5:1

C) 15:2

D) 20:2

3 / 20

3) How can you check for a pulse in an unresponsive child?

A) Carotid artery

B) Femoral artery

C) Radial artery

D) Brachial artery

4 / 20

4) Which of the following actions increases the effectiveness of compressions in child BLS?

A) Leaning on the chest between compressions

B) Allowing full chest recoil

C) Pausing between every 10 compressions

D) Compressing slowly to maintain rhythm

5 / 20

5) What should a second rescuer do while the first provides compressions in two-rescuer infant BLS?

A) Provide ventilations using a bag-mask device

B) Observe for help

C) Count out loud

D) Monitor for breathing

6 / 20

6) What is the compression rate per minute in pediatric CPR?

A) 80–100

B) 60–80

C) Over 140

D) 100–120

7 / 20

7) What is the first step in BLS for infants when you find one unresponsive?

A) Activate emergency response and get an AED

B) Check for responsiveness by tapping the foot and shouting

C) Begin chest compressions

D) Give 2 rescue breaths immediately

8 / 20

8) Which of the following is most important when delivering effective CPR to children and infants?

A) Giving breaths first

B) Performing shallow compressions

C) Minimizing interruptions during compressions

D) Checking for injuries

9 / 20

9) How deep should chest compressions be for a child during CPR?

A) About 3 inches

B) As deep as possible

C) At least 1 inch

D) About 2 inches or one-third of the chest depth

10 / 20

10) What is the recommended compression depth for an infant?

A) At least 1 inch

B) At least one-third the depth of the chest, about 1.5 inches

C) About 2 inches

D) As deep as possible without breaking ribs

11 / 20

11) What is the best way to open the airway of an unresponsive child with no trauma?

A) Cricoid pressure

B) Chin tilt only

C) Head tilt–chin lift

D) Jaw-thrust

12 / 20

12) In one-rescuer CPR for an infant, where do you place your fingers for compressions?

A) On the sides of the chest

B) Center of the chest just below nipple line

C) Upper chest near the collarbone

D) Middle of the abdomen

13 / 20

13) If a child has a pulse but is not breathing, what is your next action?

A) Start compressions

B) Call for help and wait

C) Check the airway again in 10 seconds

D) Give rescue breaths every 3–5 seconds

14 / 20

14) During one-rescuer infant CPR, what technique should you use for chest compressions?

A) Knuckles

B) Heel of one hand

C) Two fingers

D) Two thumbs encircling

15 / 20

15) What is the correct compression to breath ratio in two-rescuer BLS for children?

A) 20:2

B) 10:2

C) 15:2

D) 30:2

16 / 20

16) During two-rescuer infant CPR, how often should rescuers switch roles to prevent fatigue?

A) At 1-minute intervals

B) After every 50 compressions

C) Every 2 minutes

D) After 5 minutes

17 / 20

17) When performing chest compressions on an infant with two rescuers, what is the correct hand placement?

A) Palm of one hand on the lower half of the sternum

B) One thumb in the middle of the chest

C) Two thumbs encircling the chest, fingers supporting the back

D) Two fingers on the center of the chest

18 / 20

18) After determining unresponsiveness and no breathing in a child, what should be your immediate next step if you are alone with no phone?

A) Give one rescue breath

B) Call 911 before doing anything

C) Leave the child and get an AED

D) Perform CPR for about 2 minutes before calling 911

19 / 20

19) When using an AED on a child under 8 years old, what is the recommended approach?

A) Wait for EMS to arrive

B) Use AED only if child is not breathing but has a pulse

C) Use pediatric pads if available; if not, use adult pads

D) Only use adult pads

20 / 20

20) What is the correct location for checking the pulse in an infant?

A) Inner upper arm (brachial artery)

B) Neck

C) Groin

D) Wrist

Your score is

See also:

Free PALS Practice Test 2025 Official Study Guide [PDF]