22 Adult CPR & AED Practice Questions & Answers

1. 1. You find an adult collapsed on the ground. After confirming the scene is safe, what is the best way to recognize that they are in cardiac arrest and need CPR?

   • A.The person is unresponsive but breathing normally
   • B.The person complains of chest pain but is awake
   • C.The person has a weak but steady pulse
   • D.The person is unresponsive and not breathing or only gasping✓ Answer

   Cardiac arrest is recognized when an adult is unresponsive AND is not breathing or only gasping (agonal breathing). These two findings together indicate the heart is not effectively circulating blood, so CPR must begin immediately.

   Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Adult BLS — recognition of cardiac arrestReport a problem with this question

2. 2. At what rate should you deliver chest compressions to an adult in cardiac arrest?

   • A.60 to 80 compressions per minute
   • B.140 to 160 compressions per minute
   • C.100 to 120 compressions per minute✓ Answer
   • D.As fast as you possibly can

   Guidelines specify a compression rate of 100 to 120 per minute. Slower rates produce inadequate blood flow, while rates faster than 120 reduce the time the heart has to refill between compressions, lowering the volume of blood pumped.

   Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC — adult compression rate 100–120/minReport a problem with this question

3. 3. How deep should chest compressions be on an average adult?

   • A.Just enough to feel resistance
   • B.At least 2 inches (5 cm) but no more than 2.4 inches (6 cm)✓ Answer
   • C.About 1 inch (2.5 cm)
   • D.At least 3 inches (7.5 cm)

   Adult compressions should be at least 2 inches (5 cm) but not exceed 2.4 inches (6 cm). This depth generates enough pressure to circulate blood, while going deeper than 2.4 inches risks injury without added benefit.

   Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC — adult compression depth 5–6 cmReport a problem with this question

4. 4. Where should you place your hands to perform chest compressions on an adult?

   • A.On the left side of the chest over the heart
   • B.On the center of the chest, on the lower half of the breastbone (sternum)✓ Answer
   • C.On the upper part of the breastbone near the collarbones
   • D.Over the upper abdomen, just below the ribs

   Hands are placed in the center of the chest on the lower half of the sternum. This position compresses the heart against the spine most effectively; placing hands over the abdomen or too high reduces circulation and can cause injury.

   Source: AHA/ARC Adult BLS — hand placement, lower half of sternumReport a problem with this question

5. 5. For a single rescuer performing CPR on an adult with a barrier device, what is the correct ratio of compressions to rescue breaths?

   • A.30 compressions to 2 breaths✓ Answer
   • B.15 compressions to 2 breaths
   • C.5 compressions to 1 breath
   • D.50 compressions to 5 breaths

   A single rescuer uses a ratio of 30 compressions to 2 breaths for an adult. This ratio maximizes the number of compressions delivered while still providing ventilation, keeping interruptions in blood flow short.

   Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC — single-rescuer adult ratio 30:2Report a problem with this question

6. 6. An untrained bystander who is unwilling or unable to give rescue breaths witnesses an adult collapse. What CPR should they provide?

   • A.Abdominal thrusts to clear the airway
   • B.Hands-only CPR (continuous chest compressions with no rescue breaths)✓ Answer
   • C.Rescue breaths only, with no compressions
   • D.No CPR until trained help arrives

   Untrained bystanders are advised to give hands-only CPR — continuous chest compressions without rescue breaths. Any CPR is better than none, and continuous compressions keep blood flowing to the brain and heart until help arrives.

   Source: AHA — Hands-Only CPR recommendation for untrained bystandersReport a problem with this question

7. 7. Why is it important to allow the chest to fully recoil (return to its normal position) between compressions?

   • A.It lets the heart refill with blood so the next compression can pump effectively✓ Answer
   • B.It warms the patient's chest
   • C.It prevents the AED pads from falling off
   • D.It gives the rescuer's arms a rest

   Full chest recoil allows the heart to refill with blood between compressions. If you lean on the chest and prevent recoil, the heart cannot fill completely, so the next compression pumps less blood and circulation suffers.

   Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC — full chest recoilReport a problem with this question

8. 8. To keep CPR effective, how should interruptions in chest compressions be managed?

   • A.Interruptions do not affect the outcome
   • B.Minimize interruptions, limiting pauses to less than 10 seconds when possible✓ Answer
   • C.Pause for 30 seconds after every cycle to rest
   • D.Stop compressions to recheck the pulse every minute

   Interruptions should be minimized and kept under 10 seconds. Every pause lets blood pressure and flow drop toward zero, so frequent or long pauses reduce the oxygen delivered to the brain and heart and lower survival.

   Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC — minimize interruptions (<10 s)Report a problem with this question

9. 9. You are alone with an unresponsive adult who is not breathing, and you have a phone. What should you do first?

   • A.Give two rescue breaths and wait to see if they respond
   • B.Start compressions for 5 minutes before calling anyone
   • C.Drive the person to the hospital yourself
   • D.Call 911 (activate EMS) and get an AED, then start CPR✓ Answer

   For an adult in sudden cardiac arrest, activate EMS (call 911) and get an AED first, using a speakerphone if alone. Adults most often need rapid defibrillation, so early EMS activation and an AED are critical before or alongside starting CPR.

   Source: AHA Adult BLS — activate EMS and retrieve AED first for adult arrestReport a problem with this question

10. 10. Which action should you take FIRST when you bring an AED to an adult in cardiac arrest?

    • A.Deliver a shock immediately without analyzing
    • B.Turn the AED on and follow its voice prompts✓ Answer
    • C.Check the battery level and expiration date
    • D.Attach the pads before turning it on and wait

    The first step is to turn the AED on, because the device then gives step-by-step voice prompts that guide pad placement, analysis, and shock delivery. Following these prompts ensures the AED is used safely and correctly.

    Source: AHA/ARC AED operation — power on first, follow promptsReport a problem with this question

11. 11. In what condition must the adult's chest be for AED pads to be applied correctly?

    • A.Covered with a thin shirt
    • B.Coated with lotion for better contact
    • C.Bare and dry✓ Answer
    • D.Wet so the pads stick better

    AED pads must be applied to a bare, dry chest. Clothing prevents the pads from sticking and conducting, and moisture can cause the shock energy to travel across the skin surface instead of through the heart, reducing effectiveness and safety.

    Source: AHA/ARC AED use — bare, dry chest for pad placementReport a problem with this question

12. 12. While the AED is analyzing the heart rhythm, what must rescuers do?

    • A.Continue chest compressions during the analysis
    • B.Lift the patient's legs
    • C.Hold the patient's hand to comfort them
    • D.Make sure no one is touching the patient✓ Answer

    During rhythm analysis, everyone must stay clear and not touch the patient. Contact or movement can interfere with the AED's ability to read the heart rhythm accurately, which could lead to an incorrect analysis.

    Source: AHA/ARC AED use — clear during rhythm analysisReport a problem with this question

13. 13. The AED announces "Shock advised." What must you do before pressing the shock button?

    • A.Remove the pads and reposition them
    • B.Pour water on the pads to improve contact
    • C.Begin rescue breaths first
    • D.Make sure everyone is clear and no one is touching the patient✓ Answer

    Before delivering a shock, confirm that everyone is clear and no one is touching the patient. Anyone in contact could receive the electrical shock, causing injury, so a visual and verbal "clear" check is required for safety.

    Source: AHA/ARC AED use — clear before delivering shockReport a problem with this question

14. 14. Immediately after the AED delivers a shock, what should you do?

    • A.Remove the AED pads and turn it off
    • B.Check for a pulse for a full 30 seconds
    • C.Wait two minutes before touching the patient
    • D.Resume CPR starting with chest compressions right away✓ Answer

    Right after a shock, resume CPR beginning with chest compressions. The heart often needs compressions to restore effective circulation after defibrillation, and minimizing the pause after the shock improves the chance of recovery.

    Source: AHA/ARC AED use — resume compressions immediately after shockReport a problem with this question

15. 15. The AED analyzes the rhythm and advises "No shock advised." What should you do?

    • A.Turn off the AED because it is not needed
    • B.Remove the pads and give only rescue breaths
    • C.Assume the person has recovered and stop CPR
    • D.Resume CPR, starting with chest compressions, and follow the AED prompts✓ Answer

    "No shock advised" does not mean the person has recovered; it means the rhythm is not shockable. You should immediately resume CPR beginning with compressions and leave the pads on, following the AED, which will re-analyze periodically.

    Source: AHA/ARC AED use — resume CPR when no shock advisedReport a problem with this question

16. 16. A collapsed adult makes occasional slow, gasping sounds. How should you interpret this?

    • A.It is agonal gasping, not normal breathing — treat it as cardiac arrest and start CPR✓ Answer
    • B.It means the person is breathing normally, so no CPR is needed
    • C.It means you should wait and watch before acting
    • D.It shows the person is only sleeping deeply

    Occasional gasping (agonal breathing) is not normal, effective breathing; it is a sign of cardiac arrest. Because the person is not moving air adequately, you should treat it as cardiac arrest and begin CPR without delay.

    Source: AHA Adult BLS — agonal gasps indicate cardiac arrestReport a problem with this question

17. 17. Where are AED pads placed for the standard adult (anterolateral) placement?

    • A.One on the upper right chest below the collarbone, one on the lower left side below the armpit✓ Answer
    • B.Both pads on the back
    • C.One on the abdomen and one on the forehead
    • D.Both pads side by side on the upper chest

    In standard anterolateral placement, one pad goes on the upper right chest below the collarbone and the other on the lower left side below the armpit. This positions the heart between the pads so the shock passes through it.

    Source: AHA/ARC AED use — anterolateral pad placementReport a problem with this question

18. 18. Why should rescuers avoid giving rescue breaths that are too large or too forceful during CPR?

    • A.Excessive ventilation can push air into the stomach and reduce blood flow, harming the patient✓ Answer
    • B.Forceful breaths make the AED work faster
    • C.It has no effect either way
    • D.Larger breaths always improve oxygen delivery with no downside

    Each breath should last about 1 second and produce a visible chest rise; over-ventilating forces air into the stomach (risking vomiting) and raises chest pressure, which reduces blood return to the heart and lowers the effectiveness of compressions.

    Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC — avoid excessive ventilationReport a problem with this question

19. 19. What is the first link in the out-of-hospital adult Chain of Survival?

    • A.Administration of medications
    • B.Advanced hospital care
    • C.Recognition of cardiac arrest and activation of the emergency response system✓ Answer
    • D.Post-cardiac-arrest rehabilitation

    The first link is recognizing cardiac arrest and activating the emergency response system (calling 911). Fast recognition and EMS activation set every later link in motion, since defibrillation and advanced care depend on help being summoned quickly.

    Source: AHA Chain of Survival — first link (recognition and EMS activation)Report a problem with this question

20. 20. Why should chest compressions be started as soon as possible and continued with few interruptions?

    • A.They immediately restart the heart's normal rhythm by themselves
    • B.They replace the need for calling EMS
    • C.They are only useful after the AED has been used
    • D.They keep oxygen-rich blood flowing to the brain and heart until normal circulation can be restored✓ Answer

    Compressions manually pump blood to keep oxygen flowing to the brain and heart. They usually do not restart a normal rhythm by themselves (that often requires defibrillation), but they buy time and preserve organs until an AED and EMS can act.

    Source: AHA Adult BLS — role of high-quality chest compressionsReport a problem with this question

21. 21. When two or more trained rescuers are available, what should they do periodically during prolonged CPR?

    • A.Switch the compressor role about every 2 minutes to prevent fatigue and maintain quality✓ Answer
    • B.Never switch, so one person stays consistent
    • C.Switch every 30 seconds regardless of fatigue
    • D.Stop CPR every few minutes to rest together

    Rescuers should switch the compressor role about every 2 minutes (or every 5 cycles), ideally in under 5 seconds. Compression quality drops as the rescuer tires, often without them noticing, so rotating maintains adequate depth and rate.

    Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC — switch compressors every 2 minutesReport a problem with this question

22. 22. Once you begin CPR on an adult, when is it appropriate to stop?

    • A.As soon as you feel the ribs move
    • B.After exactly 10 cycles no matter what
    • C.When EMS or another trained provider takes over, an AED is ready to analyze, the person shows signs of life, or you are too exhausted to continue✓ Answer
    • D.As soon as 5 minutes have passed

    You continue CPR until EMS or a trained provider takes over, an AED is ready to analyze the rhythm, the person shows obvious signs of life (such as breathing or movement), or you are physically unable to continue. Stopping early interrupts the blood flow keeping the person alive.

    Source: AHA/ARC Adult BLS — criteria for stopping CPRReport a problem with this question

Practice questions based on the American Heart Association Guidelines for CPR & ECC and American Red Cross first-aid guidance. This is general education, not medical advice, and does not replace hands-on certification. To be certified in CPR/AED/First Aid you must complete an approved in-person course with a skills check. In a real emergency, call 911. Study official materials at cpr.heart.org or redcross.org. Official CPR guidelines →