Basic Life Support (BLS) Practice Exam

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When using an AED, where should the pads be placed for adults?

On the upper left and lower right sides of the chest
On the upper right chest and lower left chest
On the abdomen and back
On the front and back of the shoulders

The correct answer is: On the upper right chest and lower left chest

The correct placement of AED pads for adults is on the upper right chest and lower left chest. This specific placement ensures that the electrical shock delivered by the AED can effectively disrupt the heart's arrhythmia and restore a normal heart rhythm. The pads work by allowing current to flow across the heart, which is crucial in effectively converting lethal heart rhythms, such as ventricular fibrillation or pulseless ventricular tachycardia, back to a normal rhythm. Positioning one pad on the upper right chest (to the right of the sternum) and the other on the lower left side of the chest (under the left breast) creates a path for the electrical current to travel through the heart. This configuration maximizes the likelihood of successfully treating a cardiac arrest. In contrast, other placements such as the abdomen and back, or on the front and back of the shoulders, do not create an appropriate current pathway through the heart, which is essential for successful defibrillation. Using the pads on the upper left and lower right sides of the chest, while somewhat close, does not align with the standard recognized positioning needed for effective intervention.