RQI Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) Practice Test

Maintaining chest compression quality hinges on knowing how your compressions are being performed in real time. A CPR feedback device provides that guidance by giving immediate, objective cues about how deep each compression is, how fast you’re compressing, and whether you’re allowing the chest to recoil fully between compressions. It may show depth in centimeters, rate in compressions per minute, and alerts if you’re leaning or pausing too long. This real-time feedback helps the rescuer adjust technique on the spot to stay within guideline targets (for pediatric patients, adequate depth and a rate around 100–120 per minute with complete recoil), which improves perfusion during CPR. A defibrillator is crucial for delivering shocks when indicated, but it isn’t primarily a tool for guiding chest compression technique in real time. A pulse oximeter monitors oxygen saturation, not compression quality, and a thermometer has no role in guiding resuscitation technique.