Basic Life Support (BLS) Practice Exam

If you notice a patient gasping for air and making snorting sounds while not feeling a pulse, what should you do next?

1. Check the airway for blockages

2. Start high-quality CPR immediately

3. Apply oxygen supply

4. Look for an AED

The correct answer is: Start high-quality CPR immediately

Starting high-quality CPR immediately is the appropriate response in this scenario because the patient is experiencing gasping for air and making snorting sounds, which are signs of agonal breathing. This indicates that the patient is not breathing adequately and is likely in cardiac arrest, especially since there is no pulse detected. High-quality CPR is essential because it helps to circulate oxygen-rich blood to vital organs, specifically the brain and heart, until advanced medical help arrives. The emphasis on the quality of CPR means performing compressions at the correct depth and rate, allowing for complete chest recoil between compressions, and minimizing interruptions in effort. This immediate intervention is crucial for improving the likelihood of survival and better outcomes upon the arrival of emergency medical services. Checking the airway for blockages, applying an oxygen supply, or looking for an AED are important steps in the overall response to a medical emergency involving respiratory distress and presumed cardiac arrest, but they should be secondary to initiating CPR when the presence of pulse is absent.