Board of Legal SpecializationPractice Exam

Before starting CPR on a child, how long should you check for breathing and pulse?

1. No more than 5 seconds

2. No more than 10 seconds

3. At least 20 seconds

4. As long as needed to assess

The correct answer is: No more than 10 seconds

In emergencies, particularly when performing CPR on a child, the time spent checking for breathing and pulse is critical to ensure that you are acting quickly and effectively. The correct duration is no more than 10 seconds for this assessment. This timeframe allows for a swift evaluation to determine if the child is unresponsive and not breathing or only gasping, which typically indicates the need for immediate resuscitation efforts. If a person is found unresponsive, it’s essential to minimize any delay before starting CPR. Checking for breathing and pulse for longer than 10 seconds can increase the risk of diminished oxygen supply to the child's vital organs, which can lead to irreversible damage or death. This is why the recommendation is to conduct this assessment efficiently within a brief window, enabling you to begin chest compressions and rescue breaths as soon as possible if necessary. A shorter timeframe maintains urgency and efficacy in a life-threatening situation where every second counts. Additionally, in scenarios where the presence of a pulse might be ambiguous, it's important to prioritize initiating CPR if there is any indication that the child is not breathing normally.