Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

After an advanced airway device has been inserted during cardiac arrest, you should ventilate an infant or child:

1. By giving one breath every 4 to 6 seconds

2. By giving one breath every 6 to 8 seconds

3. By giving two breaths per minute

4. By giving one breath every 10 seconds

The correct answer is: By giving one breath every 6 to 8 seconds

When providing ventilations to an infant or child who has had an advanced airway device inserted during cardiac arrest, the correct approach is to give one breath every 6 to 8 seconds. This rate allows for adequate ventilation while minimizing the risk of hyperventilation. The timing aligns with the physiological needs of a pediatric patient, as their respiratory rates are naturally higher than those of adults. Ventilating at this rate ensures that the child is receiving sufficient oxygen without overly inflating the lungs, which can lead to complications such as barotrauma or gastric distension. This method also keeps in mind the importance of allowing adequate time for exhalation between breath deliveries. In contrast, the other options propose rates that are either too quick or too slow for effective ventilation in this population. Options suggesting breaths every 4 seconds or 10 seconds either fall outside the recommended range, risking potential ventilatory issues, while the suggestion of two breaths per minute is far too infrequent and would not meet the oxygenation needs during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) efforts. Thus, ventilating at a rate of one breath every 6 to 8 seconds strikes the appropriate balance for successful resuscitation.