CPR Online Class Practice Test

Delivering the defibrillation shock effectively depends on where the pads are placed so that the electrical current travels through the heart. When both pads are placed on the chest, the heart lies directly between them, creating a clear front-to-front path for the shock. This setup concentrates the energy through the cardiac tissue, increasing the likelihood that the heart will be depolarized and return to a normal rhythm, especially in infants and children where the chest is smaller and positioning is more variable. Placing pads on the chest also simplifies rapid deployment and reduces the chance that the pads won’t align properly or that the current will take a less effective route through the body. While alternative placements (such as one pad on the chest and one on the back) can be used in some situations, chest-to-chest placement is often taught for maximizing effectiveness in pediatric cases. Always follow the device’s pediatric guidelines and use pediatric pads or dose attenuators when available, ensuring pads do not touch each other and are applied to clean, dry skin.