22 Cardiology & Resuscitation Practice Questions & Answers
Every Cardiology & Resuscitation practice question from the EMT (NREMT) Practice Test, with the correct answer and a short explanation.
Start practice test →1. During adult CPR, what is the recommended chest compression rate for a single rescuer?
- A.140 to 160 per minute
- B.60 to 80 per minute
- C.100 to 120 per minute✓ Answer
- D.80 to 100 per minute
AHA BLS guidelines specify a compression rate of 100 to 120 per minute because rates below 100 reduce blood flow, while rates above 120 shorten the time for the heart to refill, reducing the volume ejected with each compression.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC (BLS) — High-Quality CPR: compression rate 100–120/minReport a problem with this question
2. What is the correct compression depth for an adult during CPR?
- A.As deep as physically possible
- B.About 1 inch (2.5 cm)
- C.At least 3 inches (7.5 cm)
- D.At least 2 inches (5 cm), not more than 2.4 inches (6 cm)✓ Answer
For adults, AHA recommends compressing at least 2 inches (5 cm) but not more than 2.4 inches (6 cm), because adequate depth generates blood flow while excessive depth risks injury to the chest and internal organs.
Source: AHA Guidelines for CPR & ECC (BLS) — Adult compression depth 5–6 cmReport a problem with this question
3. What compression-to-ventilation ratio should a single rescuer use for an adult in cardiac arrest?
- A.10 compressions to 2 breaths
- B.30 compressions to 2 breaths✓ Answer
- C.5 compressions to 1 breath
- D.15 compressions to 2 breaths
A single rescuer uses a 30:2 ratio for an adult so that compressions are maximized and interruptions for breaths are minimized, maintaining coronary perfusion pressure.
Source: AHA BLS — Adult one-rescuer ratio 30:2Report a problem with this question
4. When two rescuers perform CPR on a child, what compression-to-ventilation ratio is used?
- A.15 compressions to 2 breaths✓ Answer
- B.30 compressions to 2 breaths
- C.5 compressions to 1 breath
- D.10 compressions to 1 breath
For an infant or child with two rescuers, the ratio changes to 15:2 because children more often arrest from respiratory causes, so more frequent ventilations improve oxygenation.
Source: AHA BLS — Pediatric two-rescuer ratio 15:2Report a problem with this question
5. What is the correct chest compression depth for an infant during CPR?
- A.About 1.5 inches (4 cm)✓ Answer
- B.About 0.5 inch (1 cm)
- C.At least 3 inches (7.5 cm)
- D.About 2.5 inches (6 cm)
For an infant, compressions should be at least one-third the depth of the chest, which is about 1.5 inches (4 cm), because this proportion generates adequate circulation for the infant's smaller chest.
Source: AHA BLS — Infant compression depth ~4 cm (one-third AP diameter)Report a problem with this question
6. You find an unresponsive adult who is making occasional slow gasping sounds and has no pulse. How should you interpret the gasping?
- A.Normal breathing — do not start CPR
- B.A sign the patient is recovering — wait and reassess
- C.A sign of cardiac arrest (agonal breathing) — begin CPR✓ Answer
- D.Evidence of a clear airway — place in recovery position
Occasional gasping (agonal breathing) is not effective breathing; it is a sign of cardiac arrest, so an unresponsive patient with gasps and no pulse requires immediate CPR.
Source: AHA BLS — Recognition of cardiac arrest: agonal gasps are not normal breathingReport a problem with this question
7. When checking for a pulse in an unresponsive adult, how long should you take before deciding a pulse is absent?
- A.No more than 10 seconds✓ Answer
- B.At least 30 seconds
- C.Exactly 60 seconds
- D.As long as needed to be certain
The pulse check should take no more than 10 seconds because prolonged checking delays the start of compressions, and any delay reduces the patient's chance of survival.
Source: AHA BLS — Pulse check ≤10 secondsReport a problem with this question
8. For standard anterolateral AED pad placement on an adult, where do the two pads go?
- A.Both pads on the center of the chest, side by side
- B.Upper right chest below the collarbone and lower left side below the armpit✓ Answer
- C.One on the abdomen and one on the neck
- D.Both pads on the back
In the anterolateral position one pad goes on the upper right chest below the collarbone and the other on the lower left ribs below the armpit, so the current passes through the heart between them.
Source: AHA BLS — AED anterolateral pad placementReport a problem with this question
9. Why is it important to allow full chest recoil between compressions?
- A.It warms the patient
- B.It prevents the pads from moving
- C.It lets the heart refill with blood before the next compression✓ Answer
- D.It slows the compression rate
Allowing full recoil lets the chest re-expand so the heart refills with blood; leaning on the chest prevents refilling and lowers the blood flow produced by the next compression.
Source: AHA BLS — High-Quality CPR: allow complete chest recoilReport a problem with this question
10. In the adult out-of-hospital Chain of Survival, what is the first link?
- A.Advanced resuscitation by paramedics
- B.Recognition of arrest and activation of the emergency response system✓ Answer
- C.Post-cardiac arrest care
- D.Defibrillation
The first link is recognizing the arrest and activating the emergency response system, because nothing else in the chain can begin until help is summoned and the arrest is identified.
Source: AHA — Adult Out-of-Hospital Chain of Survival, link 1Report a problem with this question
11. An EMT assists a conscious chest-pain patient with aspirin. What is aspirin's primary benefit in suspected acute coronary syndrome?
- A.It dissolves the blockage completely within minutes
- B.It reduces platelet clumping to limit clot growth in the coronary artery✓ Answer
- C.It relieves pain by numbing the chest
- D.It raises blood pressure
Aspirin is given because it inhibits platelet aggregation, which slows growth of the clot obstructing the coronary artery; it does not dissolve the clot or relieve pain directly.
Source: National EMS Education Standards — ACS management; AHA — antiplatelet action of aspirinReport a problem with this question
12. Before assisting a chest-pain patient with their prescribed nitroglycerin, which assessment is most important?
- A.Confirm the patient has eaten recently
- B.Confirm the patient's temperature is normal
- C.Confirm the patient can walk unaided
- D.Confirm the patient's blood pressure is adequate (systolic above about 100)✓ Answer
Nitroglycerin dilates blood vessels and can drop blood pressure sharply, so the EMT must confirm an adequate systolic blood pressure (commonly above about 100) before assisting to avoid causing dangerous hypotension.
Source: National EMS Education Standards — Nitroglycerin assist: verify adequate systolic BPReport a problem with this question
13. Which three findings together indicate that you should begin CPR on an adult?
- A.Unresponsive, not breathing normally, no pulse✓ Answer
- B.Unresponsive but breathing normally with a pulse
- C.Responsive, breathing, has a pulse
- D.Responsive, chest pain, normal pulse
CPR is started when a patient is unresponsive, not breathing normally, and has no pulse, because that combination defines cardiac arrest requiring immediate compressions.
Source: AHA BLS — Criteria to begin CPRReport a problem with this question
14. After an advanced airway is placed during cardiac arrest, how should compressions and ventilations be delivered?
- A.Stop compressions during each breath
- B.Continue a 30:2 ratio
- C.Continuous compressions with one breath about every 6 seconds✓ Answer
- D.Give 15 breaths then 15 compressions
Once an advanced airway is in place, rescuers give continuous compressions without pausing and deliver one breath about every 6 seconds, because the secured airway removes the need to pause compressions for ventilation.
Source: AHA BLS — With advanced airway: continuous compressions, 1 breath every 6 secondsReport a problem with this question
15. During two-rescuer CPR, how often should the rescuers switch the role of giving compressions?
- A.About every 2 minutes (5 cycles)✓ Answer
- B.Every 10 minutes
- C.Only when the first rescuer is exhausted
- D.Every 30 seconds
Compressors should switch about every 2 minutes because rescuer fatigue reduces compression depth and rate over time, and rotating keeps compressions high quality; the switch should take less than 5 seconds.
Source: AHA BLS — Switch compressor roles every 2 minutesReport a problem with this question
16. You need an AED for a 5-year-old child but only adult pads are available. What should you do?
- A.Do not use the AED at all
- B.Wait for pediatric pads no matter how long it takes
- C.Use the adult pads, ensuring they do not touch each other✓ Answer
- D.Cut the adult pads in half
If pediatric pads are unavailable, adult pads may be used on a child as long as the pads do not touch each other (often placed front and back), because defibrillation is better than none in a shockable arrest.
Source: AHA BLS — Pediatric AED: use adult pads if pediatric unavailable, prevent pad contactReport a problem with this question
17. To maximize the chest compression fraction, how long should any interruption in compressions last?
- A.Less than 10 seconds✓ Answer
- B.As long as needed
- C.About 30 seconds
- D.At least 1 minute
Interruptions should be kept under 10 seconds because every pause lets coronary and cerebral perfusion pressure fall, and minimizing pauses keeps the compression fraction (goal at least 60%) high.
Source: AHA BLS — Minimize interruptions (<10 s); compression fraction ≥60%Report a problem with this question
18. You witness an adult suddenly collapse and you are alone with a phone and an AED nearby. After confirming unresponsiveness and no normal breathing, what should you do next?
- A.Activate the emergency response system and get the AED, then start CPR✓ Answer
- B.Leave to find more help before doing anything
- C.Perform compressions for 5 minutes before calling
- D.Give two rescue breaths and wait
For a witnessed sudden adult collapse, the lone rescuer should activate the emergency response system and retrieve a nearby AED first, because early defibrillation of a likely shockable rhythm is the strongest predictor of survival.
Source: AHA BLS — Lone rescuer, witnessed adult collapse: activate EMS and get AED firstReport a problem with this question
19. The AED analyzes the rhythm and advises a shock. What should you do immediately after the shock is delivered?
- A.Resume chest compressions immediately✓ Answer
- B.Remove the pads
- C.Check for a pulse for a full minute
- D.Wait for the AED to analyze again before doing anything
Immediately after a shock, restart chest compressions without a pulse check, because compressions support circulation while the heart may still be establishing an effective rhythm, and pausing to check wastes critical time.
Source: AHA BLS — Resume CPR immediately after shockReport a problem with this question
20. A conscious patient with chest pain and no signs of shock is most appropriately placed in what position?
- A.Prone (face down)
- B.Head lower than the feet
- C.Flat on the back with legs raised
- D.A position of comfort, usually sitting up✓ Answer
A conscious cardiac patient is placed in a position of comfort, usually sitting up, because it eases the work of breathing and reduces cardiac workload; legs-raised or head-down positions are used for shock, not stable chest pain.
Source: National EMS Education Standards — ACS patient positioning: position of comfortReport a problem with this question
21. Current guidelines recommend giving supplemental oxygen to a chest-pain patient only when which condition is met?
- A.Always, at high flow, regardless of readings
- B.Only if the patient asks for it
- C.Never, for chest pain patients
- D.Only when the oxygen saturation is below 94% or the patient is short of breath✓ Answer
Oxygen is titrated to need: it is given when saturation is below 94% or the patient is dyspneic, because routine high-flow oxygen in patients with normal saturation provides no benefit and may cause harm.
Source: AHA ECC / National EMS Education Standards — Oxygen titrated to SpO2 <94% or respiratory distressReport a problem with this question
22. Which of the following is a valid reason for an EMT to stop or withhold CPR?
- A.Bystanders ask you to stop
- B.Five minutes have passed with no shock advised
- C.The patient looks pale
- D.Return of spontaneous circulation, care transferred to equal/higher-level providers, or a valid DNR order✓ Answer
CPR may be stopped when spontaneous circulation returns, when care is handed off to providers of equal or higher training, or when a valid do-not-resuscitate order applies, because each removes the obligation or need to continue; fatigue and obvious irreversible death signs are additional recognized reasons.
Source: National EMS Education Standards — Criteria to terminate/withhold resuscitation (ROSC, transfer of care, valid DNR)Report a problem with this question
Practice questions modeled on the National EMS Education Standards and NREMT cognitive-exam content areas. Not medical advice and not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) or NHTSA. Always follow your instructor, medical director, and local protocols. Study the official materials at nremt.org. Official NREMT →