Basic Life Support (BLS) Practice Exam

What is the correct rate of ventilation delivery for a child in respiratory arrest?

1. 1 ventilation every 1 to 2 seconds

2. 1 ventilation every 2 to 3 seconds

3. 1 ventilation every 3 to 5 seconds

4. 1 ventilation every 5 to 10 seconds

The correct answer is: 1 ventilation every 2 to 3 seconds

The correct rate of ventilation delivery for a child in respiratory arrest is one ventilation every 2 to 3 seconds. This rate allows for an adequate exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, which is critical for preventing hypoxia in the child. When delivering ventilations, the goal is to ensure that the breaths are effective, resulting in visible rise and fall of the chest. The timing of every 2 to 3 seconds aligns with the recommendation for pediatric patients, as it provides a balance between delivering sufficient breaths while allowing adequate time for the lungs to inflate and deflate properly without causing overventilation, which can lead to complications such as barotrauma or hyperventilation. In contrast, more rapid ventilations, such as one every 1 second, may be too fast for a child and can potentially lead to issues like inadequate oxygenation or increased intrathoracic pressure. Ventilating every 3 to 5 seconds or every 5 to 10 seconds may not provide enough breaths to maintain oxygenation and could result in hypoxia. Thus, the chosen rate of 2 to 3 seconds strikes a proper balance for safely managing respiratory arrest in children.