American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider Practice Test

The ratio of compressions to breaths for a child in Basic Life Support (BLS) is 30:2 when a single rescuer is performing CPR. This means that for every 30 chest compressions delivered, 2 rescue breaths should follow. This approach is based on the need to maintain a balance of effective chest compressions, which are crucial for maintaining blood flow and oxygen delivery to vital organs during a cardiac arrest situation, along with the delivery of breaths to ensure oxygenation.

In the context of CPR, chest compressions are prioritized to ensure circulation, while rescue breaths are necessary to provide oxygen. The 30:2 ratio reflects the guideline set to optimize the effectiveness of resuscitative efforts in a child, emphasizing the need to focus on compressions while still providing adequate breathing support.

The other options reflect different protocols that may apply in different scenarios or for different age groups, but for a single rescuer performing CPR on a child, 30:2 is the correct and recommended approach.