Basic Life Support (BLS) Practice Exam

How long should one check for breathing and a pulse in an unresponsive patient?

1. 5 seconds

2. 10 seconds

3. 15 seconds

4. 20 seconds

The correct answer is: 10 seconds

In BLS protocols, the standard duration for checking for breathing and a pulse in an unresponsive patient is about 10 seconds. This timeframe is critical to ensure that emergency responders perform an effective assessment without unnecessary delay in starting life-saving interventions. Checking for breathing involves looking for chest rise, listening for breath sounds, and feeling for air movement. Meanwhile, assessing the pulse requires checking major arteries such as the carotid or femoral arteries. Taking 10 seconds strikes a balance between ensuring a thorough assessment and minimizing the time before initiating CPR or calling for emergency assistance if the patient is confirmed to be unresponsive and without breathing or pulse. Longer assessment periods could delay life-saving measures, while shorter durations may risk missing vital signs, thus the 10-second standard is a best practice to enhance patient outcomes in critical situations.