22 Child & Infant CPR Practice Questions & Answers
Every Child & Infant CPR practice question from the CPR, AED & First Aid Practice Test, with the correct answer and a short explanation.
Start practice test →1. In pediatric basic life support, how is an "infant" defined by age?
- A.Under 1 year of age✓ Answer
- B.From birth to 5 years of age
- C.Under 2 years of age
- D.Under 6 months of age
AHA and Red Cross define an infant as a child under 1 year of age (excluding the newly born), because body size and CPR technique differ from older children at this age boundary.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (age definitions)Report a problem with this question
2. For CPR purposes, the "child" age range extends from 1 year until what point?
- A.Exactly 12 years of age
- B.Exactly 8 years of age
- C.Exactly 18 years of age
- D.The onset of puberty✓ Answer
For CPR, a child is defined from 1 year of age until the onset of puberty (signs such as breast development in females or underarm/chest hair in males); after puberty, adult BLS techniques are used.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (age definitions)Report a problem with this question
3. What is the recommended compression depth for a child?
- A.As deep as possible without limit
- B.About 1 inch (2.5 cm)
- C.About 2 inches (5 cm), at least one-third the depth of the chest✓ Answer
- D.About 3 inches (7.5 cm)
For a child, compress the chest about 2 inches (5 cm), which is at least one-third of the anterior-posterior chest diameter; adequate depth is needed to generate blood flow, but excessive depth can cause injury.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (compression depth, child)Report a problem with this question
4. What is the recommended compression depth for an infant?
- A.About 0.5 inch (1 cm)
- B.About 3 inches (7.5 cm)
- C.About 1.5 inches (4 cm), about one-third the depth of the chest✓ Answer
- D.About 2 inches (5 cm)
For an infant, compress about 1.5 inches (4 cm), which is about one-third of the depth of the chest; this proportion delivers effective compressions matched to the infant's smaller chest.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (compression depth, infant)Report a problem with this question
5. A single rescuer performing CPR on an infant should use which compression technique?
- A.Two fingers on the center of the chest just below the nipple line✓ Answer
- B.The heel of one hand
- C.The thumb of one hand only
- D.Two hands stacked
A lone rescuer uses the two-finger technique on the lower half of the sternum (just below the nipple line) for an infant, because it allows one rescuer to compress and still manage the airway efficiently.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (infant compression technique, single rescuer)Report a problem with this question
6. When two rescuers perform CPR on an infant, which compression technique is preferred?
- A.The two-thumb encircling hands technique✓ Answer
- B.The heel of one hand
- C.Two hands stacked as for an adult
- D.The two-finger technique
With two rescuers, the two-thumb encircling hands technique is preferred for an infant because it produces better compression depth and blood pressure and more consistent quality than two fingers.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (two-thumb encircling technique)Report a problem with this question
7. Which compression technique is acceptable for performing CPR on a child?
- A.One or two hands, depending on the size of the child and the rescuer✓ Answer
- B.Two-thumb encircling hands only
- C.The fist only
- D.Two fingers only
For a child, either one or two hands may be used on the lower half of the sternum; the rescuer chooses whichever reliably achieves the needed depth of about 2 inches for that child's size.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (child compression technique)Report a problem with this question
8. What is the recommended chest compression rate for infants and children?
- A.100 to 120 compressions per minute✓ Answer
- B.60 to 80 compressions per minute
- C.140 to 160 compressions per minute
- D.As fast as physically possible
The compression rate for infants and children is 100 to 120 per minute, the same as for adults, because this range optimizes blood flow while still allowing full chest recoil between compressions.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (compression rate)Report a problem with this question
9. What compression-to-ventilation ratio should a single rescuer use for a child or infant?
- A.30 compressions to 2 breaths✓ Answer
- B.10 compressions to 2 breaths
- C.5 compressions to 1 breath
- D.15 compressions to 2 breaths
A lone rescuer uses a 30:2 ratio for children and infants, the same as for adults, because a single rescuer cannot switch between tasks quickly enough to sustain the more breath-heavy two-rescuer ratio.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (single-rescuer ratio)Report a problem with this question
10. When two rescuers perform CPR on a child or infant, what compression-to-ventilation ratio is used?
- A.20 compressions to 2 breaths
- B.15 compressions to 2 breaths✓ Answer
- C.10 compressions to 1 breath
- D.30 compressions to 2 breaths
With two rescuers, children and infants get a 15:2 ratio, delivering more frequent breaths than the adult ratio because pediatric arrest is often driven by a breathing problem, so ventilation is especially important.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (two-rescuer ratio 15:2)Report a problem with this question
11. Why are rescue breaths emphasized more in pediatric CPR than in typical adult CPR?
- A.Children's hearts do not need blood flow
- B.Children cannot receive chest compressions
- C.Rescue breaths replace the need for compressions
- D.Pediatric arrest is most often caused by a respiratory or breathing problem✓ Answer
Most pediatric cardiac arrests are asphyxial, beginning with a respiratory problem that lowers oxygen; because the blood is already oxygen-depleted, delivering rescue breaths is critical to restoring oxygenation.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (etiology of pediatric arrest)Report a problem with this question
12. When using an AED on an infant or young child, what is preferred if it is available?
- A.Adult pads at maximum energy
- B.Pediatric pads or a pediatric dose attenuator✓ Answer
- C.Two AEDs used at once
- D.No pads at all
For infants and children under 8, pediatric pads or a pediatric dose attenuator are preferred because they reduce the delivered shock energy to a level more appropriate for a small body.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (AED use in children)Report a problem with this question
13. An infant is in cardiac arrest and only adult AED pads are available. What should the rescuer do?
- A.Use the adult pads, ensuring they do not touch each other✓ Answer
- B.Do not use the AED at all
- C.Cut the adult pads in half
- D.Wait for pediatric pads no matter how long it takes
If pediatric pads or an attenuator are not available, adult pads should be used because a shock is better than none; on a small chest the pads may be placed front and back so they do not touch each other.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (AED, adult pads if pediatric unavailable)Report a problem with this question
14. You are alone and find an unresponsive child who was not witnessed to collapse and there is no phone nearby. What should you do first?
- A.Give one rescue breath and stop
- B.Give about 2 minutes (5 cycles) of CPR, then leave to call EMS✓ Answer
- C.Wait for the child to wake up on their own
- D.Leave immediately to call EMS before any CPR
For an unwitnessed collapse in a child, a lone rescuer gives about 2 minutes of CPR before leaving to call EMS, because the likely respiratory cause means immediate oxygen delivery may restore the child before help arrives.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (lone rescuer, call sequence)Report a problem with this question
15. You are alone and witness a child suddenly collapse. There is a phone in your pocket. What is the best first action?
- A.Do nothing until the child stops moving
- B.Only call a family member
- C.Give 5 minutes of CPR before calling
- D.Call EMS (and get an AED) right away, then begin CPR✓ Answer
A sudden witnessed collapse suggests a possible cardiac (shockable) rhythm, so the lone rescuer should call EMS and get an AED immediately—since rapid defibrillation is the priority—then start CPR.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (witnessed sudden collapse, phone-first)Report a problem with this question
16. Where should chest compressions be delivered on an infant?
- A.On the upper sternum, between the collarbones
- B.Over the stomach
- C.On the left side of the chest over the heart
- D.On the lower half of the sternum, just below the nipple line✓ Answer
Infant compressions are given on the lower half of the sternum, just below the nipple line, because this position compresses the heart effectively while avoiding the xiphoid process and abdominal organs.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (infant hand position)Report a problem with this question
17. Why is it important to allow full chest recoil between compressions in a child or infant?
- A.It reduces the need for rescue breaths
- B.It lets the heart refill with blood so the next compression can circulate more✓ Answer
- C.It makes compressions faster
- D.It prevents the AED from working
Full chest recoil allows the heart to refill with blood between compressions; leaning on the chest prevents this filling and reduces the blood flow generated by the next compression.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (full chest recoil)Report a problem with this question
18. When giving rescue breaths to a child or infant, each breath should be delivered over about how long, and to what visible effect?
- A.Continuous blowing for 10 seconds
- B.A quick puff with no chest movement
- C.About 1 second each, just enough to make the chest visibly rise✓ Answer
- D.About 5 seconds each, forcing the chest up as high as possible
Each rescue breath is given over about 1 second with just enough volume to make the chest visibly rise; over-inflating can push air into the stomach and cause vomiting or reduce blood flow.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (rescue breath delivery)Report a problem with this question
19. For CPR to begin on a child or infant, which finding should be present?
- A.Unresponsive and not breathing normally (or only gasping)✓ Answer
- B.Coughing forcefully and alert
- C.Awake and crying loudly
- D.Breathing normally but sleepy
CPR is started when a child or infant is unresponsive and not breathing normally (gasping does not count as breathing), because this indicates the heart is likely not circulating blood effectively.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (indications for CPR)Report a problem with this question
20. During two-rescuer infant CPR, when should the rescuers switch compression roles?
- A.Every 10 minutes
- B.Only when the AED tells them to
- C.About every 2 minutes to prevent fatigue and keep compressions effective✓ Answer
- D.They should never switch
Rescuers should switch compressors about every 2 minutes because compression quality (depth and rate) declines with fatigue, and the switch should be done quickly to minimize interruptions.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (rescuer switching)Report a problem with this question
21. No AED is available for a child in cardiac arrest. What should rescuers do?
- A.Wait quietly for the child to recover
- B.Continue high-quality CPR until an AED or EMS arrives✓ Answer
- C.Perform only rescue breaths
- D.Stop CPR because it cannot help without an AED
Without an AED, rescuers continue high-quality CPR (compressions plus breaths) until an AED or EMS arrives, because ongoing chest compressions keep oxygenated blood flowing to the brain and heart.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (continue CPR until AED/EMS)Report a problem with this question
22. Why should interruptions in chest compressions be minimized during pediatric CPR?
- A.Interruptions are required after every breath
- B.Pausing improves compression depth
- C.It makes the AED charge faster
- D.Blood flow to vital organs stops quickly when compressions pause✓ Answer
Interruptions should be minimized because when compressions stop, blood flow and pressure to the brain and heart fall almost immediately and take several compressions to rebuild once resumed.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC, Pediatric BLS (minimize interruptions / chest compression fraction)Report 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 →