NBCSN Nationally Certified School Nurse Exam 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

When a child under 8 years old experiences respiratory arrest, the first step is to administer rescue breaths for a duration of one minute. This is crucial because respiratory arrest can lead to a rapid decline in oxygen levels, and providing rescue breaths can help restore adequate oxygenation to vital organs until professional help arrives.

In children, respiratory arrest is often preceded by problems such as an airway obstruction or severe respiratory distress, which means that addressing the immediate need for breathing is vital. By giving rescue breaths, you can potentially prevent the situation from worsening and may even revive spontaneous breathing.

It is essential to recognize that proper training in airway management and rescue breaths contributes to effective respiratory support during emergencies. Calling for help is also important, but the immediate application of rescue breaths takes precedence in order to sustain the child's life until further assistance is available. Providing CPR or performing interventions like the Heimlich maneuver are not appropriate first steps in a case of respiratory arrest specifically.