YMCA CPR Exam I Questions and Answers – 100% Pass!

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is a critical life-saving skill that can mean the difference between life and death. The YMCA CPR Exam is designed to ensure individuals have the knowledge and competency to provide high-quality emergency care. Whether you’re preparing for the test or refreshing your knowledge, understanding key concepts is essential for success.

In this guide, we’ll cover vital topics, including high-performance CPR, BLS assessment steps, child and infant CPR, standard precautions, AED usage, and more. Master these principles, and you’ll be well on your way to passing the YMCA CPR Exam with confidence.

Understanding High-Performance CPR

High-performance CPR goes beyond basic chest compressions—it optimizes every aspect of resuscitation to increase survival rates. It incorporates elements such as:

• Minimizing interruptions in chest compressions
• Delivering compressions at the correct depth and rate (2 inches deep at 100-120 compressions per minute for adults)
• Ensuring full chest recoil to allow proper blood flow
• Using teamwork and role coordination to maximize efficiency
• Integrating early defibrillation with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED)

By focusing on these principles, rescuers provide more effective circulatory support, leading to better outcomes for cardiac arrest victims.

What Are the Basic Steps of the BLS Assessment in the Proper Order?

The Basic Life Support (BLS) assessment follows a structured process to ensure the highest likelihood of survival. The correct sequence is:

1. Assess the scene for safety – Ensure the area is free of hazards before approaching.
2. Check for responsiveness – Tap the victim and shout to determine if they are conscious.
3. Activate emergency response – Call 911 or direct someone else to get help and bring an AED.
4. Check for breathing and pulse – Look for chest rise and feel for a carotid or brachial pulse for no more than 10 seconds.
5. Begin high-quality CPR – If no pulse is present, initiate chest compressions immediately.
6. Use an AED as soon as available – Follow voice prompts and deliver a shock if advised.
7. Continue CPR until advanced medical personnel arrive.

This systematic approach ensures rapid intervention, significantly improving survival chances.

When Providing CPR on a Child or Infant

Performing CPR on a child or infant differs from adult CPR due to physiological differences. Key modifications include:

Child CPR (1-year-old to puberty)

• Use one or two hands for compressions, depending on the child’s size.
• Compression depth: At least one-third of the chest depth (~2 inches).
• Give 30 compressions to 2 breaths (single rescuer) or 15:2 (if two rescuers are present).

Infant CPR (0-12 months old)

• Use two fingers for single-rescuer CPR or thumb-encircling technique if two rescuers are available.
• Compression depth: At least one-third of the chest depth (~1.5 inches).
• Maintain a neutral airway position to prevent airway obstruction.
• Use gentle but effective rescue breaths, ensuring chest rise.

Proper technique ensures adequate oxygen delivery while minimizing the risk of injury.

BLS Answers 2026 – What to Expect in the Exam

The YMCA CPR Exam will test your knowledge of BLS protocols and CPR techniques. Here are some of the key topics covered in BLS answers 2026:

• Proper hand placement for chest compressions
• Correct ventilation techniques for different age groups
• Compression-to-ventilation ratios for single- and multi-rescuer scenarios
• Signs of effective CPR (visible chest rise, proper recoil, consistent rhythm)
• AED operation and safety considerations

Studying the latest BLS answers 2026 ensures you’re prepared for the most up-to-date guidelines.

To Observe Standard Precautions Means…

Standard precautions refer to infection control measures used to protect both rescuers and victims from the transmission of disease. In a CPR scenario, to observe standard precautions means:

• Wearing protective equipment (gloves, masks, eye protection) when available.
• Minimizing exposure to bodily fluids to prevent contamination.
• Using barrier devices (such as a CPR mask) when giving rescue breaths.
• Practicing hand hygiene before and after performing CPR.

These precautions are critical in maintaining safety for both the rescuer and the patient.

After Delivering a Shock with an AED, You Should…

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) plays a pivotal role in cardiac arrest survival. However, proper post-shock procedures are essential.

After delivering a shock with an AED, you should:

1. Immediately resume CPR – Begin chest compressions right away to maintain circulation.
2. Follow AED prompts – The device will reassess heart rhythm and guide further actions.
3. Continue until professional help arrives – Maintain CPR and AED use until emergency responders take over.

AEDs are highly effective in restoring normal heart rhythm when used without hesitation.

Final Tips for Passing the YMCA CPR Exam

1. Study the latest guidelines – CPR protocols evolve, so be familiar with BLS answers 2026 and any updates.
2. Practice compressions and ventilations – Hands-on skills matter as much as theoretical knowledge.
3. Memorize key CPR steps – Be prepared to answer questions on BLS assessment steps, AED usage, and CPR techniques for all age groups.
4. Stay calm and confident – Time constraints may apply during practical testing, so think quickly and act decisively.

Passing the YMCA CPR Exam isn’t just about getting a certification—it’s about being prepared to save lives in real-world emergencies. By mastering high-performance CPR, understanding standard precautions, and following the correct BLS sequence, you can ensure optimal care for cardiac arrest victims.

With dedication and practice, success is within reach—and more importantly, so is the ability to make a difference when it matters most.

Below are sample Questions and Answers:

You are caring for a child who is unresponsive but breathing normally. No trauma is suspected, and the
scene is safe. You want to protect the child's open airway. You have extended the arm nearest to you up
alongside the head, brought the other arm across his chest, and have the back of his hand against his
cheek. What is your next step? - ANS-✔✔Grasp the shoulder and hip and roll the child onto his side.
You and another provider are attending to a 17-year-old boy found unresponsive with occasional gasps.
You are not certain if a pulse is present. What should you do? - ANS-✔✔Start CPR; 30:2 compressions
to ventilations.
High-performance CPR includes: - ANS-✔✔High-quality CPR skills and an efficient team approach
You are attending to a person who is unresponsive and is breathing normally. You are alone and need to
leave to activate EMS. Before leaving, what should you do? - ANS-✔✔Place the person in a side-lying
recovery position.
You are attending to a person who is unresponsive, not breathing normally, but you can clearly feel a
carotid pulse. What is the determined problem? - ANS-✔✔Respiratory arrest
You have been performing CPR on a 9-year-old child for about 4 minutes. An AED has just arrived. What
should you do? - ANS-✔✔Attach the AED quickly and follow the voice instructions.
You respond as an EMS provider to a 51-year-old man found collapsed near a car with its engine running
inside a closed garage. Bystanders have dragged him outside onto the lawn. He is unresponsive and
does not appear to be breathing normally. You cannot feel his carotid pulse. What is the indicated care?
- ANS-✔✔Perform CPR with effective rescue breaths.
A roofer was electrocuted when his aluminum ladder contacted an energized power line. The scene has
been made safe and you have determined he is in cardiac arrest. The AED has analyzed the heart and is
indicating a shock is advised. What should you do? - ANS-✔✔Clear the person and immediately deliver
the shock.