Ryanair Initial Practice Exam

Which symptom would indicate a passenger has gone into cardiac arrest?

1. Coughing or sneezing

2. Causal signs of breathing

3. Casualty is unconscious, no sign of normal breathing

4. Feeling faint but conscious

The correct answer is: Casualty is unconscious, no sign of normal breathing

The presence of unconsciousness combined with no signs of normal breathing is a definitive indication that a passenger could be in cardiac arrest. In this situation, the heart is not effectively pumping blood, which leads to a lack of oxygen in the body and results in the loss of consciousness. Normal breathing would typically indicate that the heart is still functioning to some degree, whereas the absence of normal breathing alongside unconsciousness is critical. This symptom calls for immediate medical intervention, such as calling for help and initiating CPR, to try to restore blood circulation and breathing. The other symptoms, while notable in different contexts, do not indicate cardiac arrest and should not trigger the same level of urgency.