During paediatric BLS, the ratio of chest compressions to ventilations when TWO rescuers are present for a 3-year-old child is:

• A 30:2 (same as adult)
• B 15:1
• C 3:1 (as for neonates)
• D 15:2 ✓

Explanation

In paediatric BLS (children: 1 year to puberty), with TWO healthcare providers, the compression-to-ventilation ratio is 15:2 — reflecting the greater importance of ventilation in paediatric cardiac arrest (which is usually from respiratory/asphyxial causes rather than primary cardiac causes as in adults). Single-rescuer paediatric BLS uses 30:2 (same as adult) for practical reasons. Neonatal resuscitation uses 3:1 (90 compressions + 30 breaths per minute). Once an advanced airway is secured in children, asynchronous continuous compressions at 100–120/min with breaths at 8–10/min are given.

Reference: Morgan & Mikhail's Clinical Anesthesiology, 6th ed.

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Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.