ECC Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield ECC facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. Which rhythm is described as an organized, regular, narrow-complex rhythm WITHOUT a pulse? → Pulseless electrical activity (PEA)
2. Which medication should be immediately available when administering IV adenosine for SVT? → Defibrillator with resuscitation equipment
3. What should be done if the defibrillator shock is unsuccessful? → Resume CPR immediately while preparing for another shock if necessary.
4. A hospital's AED program must comply with which federal law that provides liability protection for AED users? → The Cardiac Arrest Survival Act (CASA)
5. In ECC practice, what is a corrective action plan? → A documented strategy to address identified compliance deficiencies and prevent recurrence
6. What is the primary goal of early defibrillation during cardiac arrest? → To restore normal heart rhythm
7. Which ECG change is most characteristic of hyperkalemia in an emergency setting? → Peaked (tall, narrow) T waves with progressive QRS widening
8. Which finding on diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) performed 2–5 days post-cardiac arrest indicates severe anoxic brain injury? → Extensive restricted diffusion in the cortex and deep gray nuclei
9. Maintaining patient privacy during a resuscitation in a shared emergency department bay is an example of which HIPAA principle? → Privacy Rule compliance
10. Which of the following is a common complication during post-resuscitation care? → Recurrent arrhythmias
11. What does professional liability insurance protect a ECC practitioner against? → Financial loss from claims of negligence, errors, or omissions in professional services
12. In an ECC QI dashboard, a 'funnel plot' is most useful for: → Comparing hospital performance while accounting for volume differences
13. Which airway adjunct is most appropriate for a semiconscious patient with an intact gag reflex? → Nasopharyngeal airway (NPA)
14. Which finding best differentiates pericarditis from STEMI on a 12-lead ECG? → Diffuse saddle-shaped ST elevation in multiple leads with PR depression in pericarditis
15. In the Wellens syndrome pattern on ECG, what does the characteristic T-wave morphology indicate about risk? → High risk; critical LAD stenosis with recent near-occlusion
16. The legal doctrine of res ipsa loquitur may be applied in a cardiac emergency malpractice case when: → The negligent act is so obvious it speaks for itself without expert testimony
17. When analyzing EMS response time data, which statistical measure is most appropriate for a dataset with significant outliers? → Median
18. Which resuscitation outcome measure is considered the GOLD STANDARD for ECC quality programs? → Survival to hospital discharge with favorable neurological outcome
19. In the AHA High-Performance CPR team model, what is the primary role of the team leader? → Coordinating all team member roles and ensuring protocol adherence
20. A patient's continuous SpO2 monitoring shows sudden drop from 98% to 78% with a normal waveform on the plethysmograph. What is the most appropriate next action? → Recheck the probe placement and consider arterial blood gas
21. A hospital's Utstein-style report shows a 10% gap between ROSC rate and survival to discharge. This gap most likely reflects deficiencies in: → Post-resuscitation care protocols
22. Which federal reporting requirement obligates hospitals to report certain unexpected cardiac-related patient deaths to the state health department? → Conditions of Participation under 42 CFR Part 482
23. A patient in PEA arrest has a HR of 60 on the monitor. The team suspects cardiac tamponade. Which H or T is this classified under? → Tamponade (cardiac)
24. When planning a Heartsaver CPR training event for laypersons, which scenario presents the GREATEST challenge to program execution? → Ensuring enough mannequins are available for a 1:1 or 1:2 learner ratio
25. A patient with witnessed VF receives a shock, CPR resumes, and after 2 minutes the rhythm is checked and shows organized activity. Which action is correct? → Check for a pulse
26. Which element of TeamSTEPPS is MOST directly related to ECC communication effectiveness? → Leadership, situational monitoring, mutual support, and communication
27. Which resuscitation QI measure specifically assesses whether chest compressions allow full chest recoil between compressions? → Leaning rate or incomplete recoil rate
28. A patient's 10-year ASCVD risk is calculated at 12% using the Pooled Cohort Equations. This result is best used to guide which clinical decision? → Whether to initiate statin therapy for primary prevention
29. Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is defined as which of the following? → Three or more consecutive PVCs at a rate greater than 100 bpm
30. Which ECG finding is characteristic of ventricular fibrillation (VF)? → Chaotic, irregular waveforms with no identifiable QRS complexes