Basic Life Support (BLS) Practice Exam

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

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Which action can rescuers take to reduce the risk of gastric inflation?

Delivering breaths rapidly
Delivering each breath over 1 second
Using a higher ventilation pressure
Administering chest compressions before breaths

The correct answer is: Delivering each breath over 1 second

Delivering each breath over 1 second is the recommended practice to reduce the risk of gastric inflation during rescue breathing. When breaths are administered too quickly, especially if they are delivered in a manner that forces air into the lungs, there's a higher chance that air can be pushed into the stomach instead, leading to gastric inflation. By taking a full second for each breath, the rescuer allows for adequate time for the lung to expand and receive the air properly while minimizing the likelihood of inadvertently sending air into the stomach. This method promotes effective ventilation and ensures that each breath is delivered in a controlled manner, improving the overall efficacy of resuscitation efforts. Other options, such as delivering breaths rapidly or using a higher ventilation pressure, may increase the risk of air entering the stomach, while administering chest compressions before breaths is an important aspect of BLS but doesn't directly relate to controlling the risks of gastric inflation during ventilatory efforts.