The correct rate of ventilation delivery for a child or infant in respiratory arrest or failure is generally 20 to 30 breaths per minute, which corresponds to one breath every 2 to 3 seconds. This applies to both infants (under one year old) and children, and the breaths should be given gently enough to cause visible chest rise but avoiding over-ventilation to prevent complications like gastric inflation. Recent guidelines and studies support this rate to accommodate the smaller lung capacity and higher metabolic demands of infants and children during rescue breathing or CPR ventilation.
This rate is higher than the typical adult rate of about 10 breaths per minute, because children and infants require more frequent ventilation due to their physiology. More specifically, for infants, the rescuer should provide rescue breaths at a rate of 20-30 per minute (one every 2-3 seconds) to ensure effective oxygenation during respiratory arrest or failure, with careful attention to gentle delivery and chest rise.
In summary:
- Ventilation rate for infants/children in respiratory arrest: 20-30 breaths per minute.
- One breath every 2 to 3 seconds.
- Deliver a breath that causes visible chest rise.
- Avoid excessive ventilation to prevent complications.
