American Red Cross BLS Practice Test 2025 – Complete Exam Prep

When caring for an adult patient in respiratory arrest, the primary focus is on providing effective ventilations to ensure adequate oxygenation. Delivering one ventilation every six seconds allows for a sufficient exchange of air and helps maintain oxygen levels in the bloodstream. This method aligns with the guidelines for providing rescue breaths to individuals who are not breathing but still have a pulse.

While starting CPR immediately is crucial in situations where the patient is in cardiac arrest, in a case of respiratory arrest where the patient still has a pulse but is not breathing, the emphasis shifts to providing ventilations rather than chest compressions. Checking breathing and pulse every minute is not an effective strategy in an emergency; timely action is essential to prevent deterioration. Providing chest compressions only is appropriate in cardiac arrest situations, but it is not suitable for a patient who is in respiratory arrest but still has a heartbeat. Therefore, the correct action is to focus on delivering ventilations to promptly address the lack of breathing.