RQI Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider Practice Test

To assess responsiveness in an infant, gently tap the infant's foot and shout, “Are you OK?” This direct combination of tactile and auditory cues quickly reveals whether the baby is awake and responsive, guiding the next steps in the BLS assessment. Shaking the infant by the arms is unsafe and not an appropriate way to gauge responsiveness. Tickling the feet or waiting for a response to soft speech alone may not reliably show alertness, especially if the infant is sleeping or unresponsive to gentler cues.