2.1 CPR and defibrillation

Q: What does AVPU stand for in rapid response assessment?
A: Alert, Voice, Pain, Unresponsive.

Q: What pulse should you check during BLS?
A: Carotid pulse.

Q: How deep should compressions be in adult CPR?
A: ≥ 5 cm or ⅓ the depth of the chest.

Q: What is the compression to ventilation ratio in BLS?
A: 30 compressions : 2 breaths.

Q: What are the two theories of blood movement during CPR?
A: Thoracic Pump Theory and Cardiac Pump Theory.

Q: What percentage of normal cardiac output does CPR provide?
A: 15–25%.

Q: What are the non-shockable rhythms in cardiac arrest?
A: Asystole and Pulseless Electrical Activity (PEA).

Q: What are the shockable rhythms?
A: Ventricular Fibrillation (VF) and Pulseless Ventricular Tachycardia (VT).

Q: How does VF appear on ECG?
A: Chaotic, irregular with no identifiable waves (P, QRS, or T).

Q: How does pulseless VT appear on ECG?
A: Fast, regular, and wide QRS complexes.

Q: What are the 4 Hs in PEA causes?
A: Hypoxia, Hypovolemia, Hypo/Hyperkalemia, Hypothermia.

Q: What are the 4 Ts in PEA causes?
A: Tamponade, Tension pneumothorax, Thrombosis (PE/MI), Toxins.

Q: What is the standard adult defib energy?
A: 200 Joules (can vary by device/service).

Q: What are key safety checks before delivering a shock?
A: No contact, dry patient, safe surface, no flammable substances, correct pad placement.

Q: What happens to survival with each minute delay in defibrillation?
A: Decreases by 10–12%.