BLS Special Situations & Scenarios Flashcards
6 cards from real BLS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 BLS Special Situations & Scenarios flashcards as text
Manual left uterine displacement (LUD) during CPR in pregnancy is performed primarily to:
Answer: Relieve compression of the inferior vena cava and aorta by the gravid uterus
LUD moves the uterus off the major vessels, restoring venous return and improving cardiac output during CPR.
A victim of a lightning strike has no pulse. Which statement about rescuer safety is correct?
Answer: Lightning strike victims do not retain an electrical charge and are safe to touch — begin CPR immediately
Unlike live electrical sources, lightning strike victims do not hold a charge and are completely safe to touch; CPR should begin without delay.
In a trauma patient in cardiac arrest with a suspected open chest wound (sucking chest wound), what should be done as part of BLS?
Answer: Seal the open chest wound with an occlusive dressing as CPR is performed
An unsealed open chest wound causes a tension pneumothorax that makes CPR ineffective; sealing it restores thoracic pressure mechanics.
In a patient with suspected cervical spine injury who requires BLS, how should the airway be opened?
Answer: Jaw thrust maneuver to minimize cervical spine movement
The jaw thrust opens the airway by displacing the mandible forward without extending the neck, minimizing risk of spinal injury.
A lone rescuer finds an unresponsive, non-breathing child who was just pulled from a pool. When should EMS be activated?
Answer: Provide approximately 2 minutes (5 cycles) of CPR first, then activate EMS
For pediatric drowning victims, hypoxia is the primary cause, so 2 minutes of CPR is prioritized before a lone rescuer leaves to activate EMS.
After successfully resuscitating a drowning victim, which complication requires close hospital monitoring?
Answer: Delayed pulmonary edema (secondary drowning) causing respiratory failure hours later
Fluid aspiration during drowning can cause pulmonary edema and respiratory failure hours after successful resuscitation, making hospital observation mandatory.