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Paediatric basic life support — DIPIMC MCQ

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ModerateResuscitationPaediatric basic life supportDIPIMCDipIMC

A 5-year-old child is found unresponsive and not breathing after choking at a family meal. You are a trained responder and are alone with the child for the moment. After opening the airway and confirming the child is not breathing normally, what is the most appropriate sequence?

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Correct answer: D — Give five initial rescue breaths, then cycles of 15 compressions to 2 breaths

Paediatric cardiac arrest is usually hypoxic in origin, so a trained rescuer gives five initial rescue breaths followed by cycles of 15 compressions to 2 breaths. The adult 30:2 ratio and compression-only resuscitation are not preferred when a trained rescuer can deliver breaths to a child. Continued blind abdominal thrusts in an unresponsive child are inappropriate. Pearl: if alone with no means of summoning help, perform about one minute of CPR before leaving to call for assistance.

Reference: Resuscitation Council UK Guidelines 2025 (Paediatric Life Support)