What is the recommended rate for providing rescue breaths to a patient in respiratory distress?

The recommended rate for providing rescue breaths to a patient in respiratory distress is one breath every six seconds. This rate ensures that the patient receives adequate ventilation without causing hyperventilation, which can lead to increased intrathoracic pressure and a decrease in cardiac output.

In adult patients who are not breathing adequately but still have a pulse, delivering one breath every six seconds allows for a sufficient exchange of gases, providing oxygen to the lungs while still allowing time for the lungs to deflate and refill between breaths. This balance is crucial in emergency scenarios to stabilize the patient and improve their respiratory status.

The other rates suggested do not align with the best practices for ventilation. For example, a breath every four seconds would provide too high a frequency, leading to possible complications from overventilation. Likewise, breathing every ten seconds is too infrequent, risking inadequate oxygenation for the patient in distress. The specific choice of six seconds is rooted in guidelines for basic life support and advanced cardiovascular life support, ensuring effective and safe ventilation.