Basic Life Support (BLS) Renewal Practice Exam

Stopping CPR is an essential decision in a life-saving scenario, and the appropriate time to cease resuscitation efforts occurs when emergency medical services (EMS) arrive and take over the care of the victim. When EMS arrives, they have advanced training, equipment, and additional resources that may be necessary for continuation of care or advanced life support. Their presence signals that professional help has taken over, which allows the rescuer to stop CPR and shift responsibility to the emergency response team, knowing that the victim is now in capable hands.

In many cases, continuing CPR indefinitely without professional assistance is not feasible, especially if the person performing CPR is alone and starts to become exhausted. Therefore, recognizing the arrival of EMS as a clear indication to stop is crucial for the effectiveness of the overall response.

Other scenarios where CPR might be stopped, such as when the victim shows signs of recovery or when the resuscitator is too exhausted, can indeed lead to valid reasons for stopping, but those options are not as straightforward or universally applicable as the arrival of EMS. For instance, while a victim showing signs of recovery is an important signal, this may not always be easy to detect in a high-stress situation. Each resuscitation scenario is unique, and the responsibility of