While using a bag-mask device to ventilate a 16-year-old in cardiac arrest, how should ventilation be performed?

When using a bag-mask device to ventilate a patient in cardiac arrest, it is essential to ensure that ventilation is provided at an appropriate rate to facilitate effective rescue breathing without causing complications such as hyperventilation. The correct rate for delivering breaths in this scenario for a 16-year-old is to squeeze the bag to deliver 1 breath every 6 seconds.

This rate translates to approximately 10 breaths per minute, which aligns with current guidelines for effective ventilation during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) when an advanced airway is not in place. It allows for adequate time between breaths for the patient to exhale, helping to prevent overinflation of the lungs and reducing the risk of potential complications associated with rapid or excessive ventilation.

Understanding the context of ventilation in cardiac arrest is crucial since too few or too many breaths can significantly impact the effectiveness of resuscitation efforts. Delivering ventilations at the specified rate ensures that the oxygen supply is sufficient while minimizing the risk of adverse effects, which is vital in emergency situations.