In managing a patient in respiratory arrest, how often should ventilations be delivered?

The correct frequency for delivering ventilations in a patient experiencing respiratory arrest is every 6 seconds. This rate allows for adequate oxygen delivery while minimizing the risk of over-ventilation, which can lead to complications such as hyperventilation and decreased cardiac output.

When managing a patient in respiratory arrest, it is essential to ensure that there is a proper balance in ventilation. Ventilating too fast can reduce the effectiveness of each breath and can disturb the natural balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the blood. The guideline of providing one ventilation every 6 seconds translates to a ventilation rate of 10 breaths per minute, which is generally recommended for adults.

In contrast, alternatives such as delivering ventilations every 4, 8, or 10 seconds would either be too fast or too slow, compromising the ability to maintain adequate oxygenation or risking respiratory distress for the patient. The American Heart Association and other resuscitation guidelines support a 6-second interval as the optimal approach during these emergencies.