Basic Life Support (BLS) Practice Exam

In the event of an obstructed airway, what action should be taken first for an unresponsive 9-month-old infant?

1. Begin rescue breaths

2. Provide 30 chest compressions

3. Perform back blows

4. Administer first aid

The correct answer is: Provide 30 chest compressions

In the case of an unresponsive 9-month-old infant with an obstructed airway, the most appropriate first action is to provide 30 chest compressions. This is crucial because chest compressions can help create pressure in the chest cavity, potentially expelling the object causing the obstruction. During infancy, the airway is smaller and more delicate, so emphasis is placed on chest compressions to both maintain circulation and attempt to dislodge the obstruction. While delivering rescue breaths is important in the event of respiratory failure, an unresponsive infant requires immediate actions that target the obstructed airway first. Back blows can be effective in conscious infants but are not the recommended first step when dealing with an unresponsive child. First aid is a broad term and does not specify the immediate protocol needed for an obstructed airway, which necessitates specific actions such as chest compressions to rapidly address the situation.