Basic Life Support (BLS) Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the Basic Life Support Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, complete with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

How often should providers switch off performing compressions during CPR?

1 minute
2 minutes
3 minutes
5 minutes

The correct answer is: 2 minutes

During CPR, it is important for providers to switch off performing chest compressions every 2 minutes. This recommendation is based on maintaining the quality and effectiveness of compressions. Continuous, high-quality compressions are essential for generating adequate blood flow to vital organs, particularly the heart and brain. Fatigue can cause providers to decrease the depth and rate of compressions, which can compromise the effectiveness of the resuscitation efforts. By switching providers every 2 minutes, it ensures that each person can give their best effort during compressions, maintaining a consistent force and rhythm. This interval also allows for a quick check of the patient's rhythm and, if necessary, the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). Furthermore, even though some CPR guidelines allow providers to switch every minute if fatigue is noticeable, the standard recommendation is to do so at the 2-minute mark to optimize the chances of successful resuscitation.