When should rescue breaths be provided to a child in cardiac arrest?

Providing rescue breaths to a child in cardiac arrest should occur when the airway is open, and chest rise is visible. This is an essential component of the rescue breathing technique in pediatric advanced life support.

When performing rescue breaths, the rescuer must ensure that the airway is clear and that the breaths are effective, evidenced by the rise and fall of the chest. This indicates that air is reaching the lungs, which is crucial for oxygenating the child's blood. If the airway is not open or if chest rise is not observed, it may mean the breaths are not being delivered effectively, and further interventions, like repositioning the head or using proper sealing for the mask, may be necessary.

The timing of rescue breaths is critically essential. In standard CPR protocols, after initiating compressions, the integration of rescue breaths begins once the rescuer has established an open airway and confirmed that the breaths will be effective. Therefore, reinforcing that the ability to see visible chest rise signifies that the breaths are being successfully administered, aligns with the best practices for resuscitating a child in cardiac arrest.