Board of Legal SpecializationPractice Exam

If you are alone and find a child in cardiac arrest, what should you do after performing 2 minutes of CPR?

1. Continue CPR for another 2 minutes

2. Leave to get help and an AED

3. Wait for someone to assist

4. Try to wake the child up

The correct answer is: Leave to get help and an AED

After performing 2 minutes of CPR on a child in cardiac arrest, the appropriate action is to leave to get help and retrieve an AED. This step is crucial for several reasons. First, when dealing with a situation involving a child in cardiac arrest, time is of the essence. Each passing moment without definitive care, such as the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), significantly reduces the chances of survival and recovery. By leaving to get help, you ensure that medical assistance is on the way, which can provide advanced care once you have stabilized the child as much as possible. Additionally, using an AED is vital in cases of cardiac arrest, as it can deliver a shock to the heart if necessary, potentially restoring a normal rhythm. This device is crucial for survival and should be utilized as soon as it becomes available. In contrast, continuing CPR for another 2 minutes without additional help or equipment does not address the need for advanced medical intervention, and waiting for someone to assist might delay necessary action. Attempting to wake the child, however, is not a viable option since the child is in cardiac arrest and not in a state where they can be awakened. Therefore, leaving to get help and obtaining an AED is the most critical step in