Final answer:
Neonatal ventilation bags are much smaller than adult ventilation bags to accommodate the smaller lung capacities of newborns. They typically have a capacity of 240 to 500 milliliters, while adult bags hold 1 to 1.5 liters of air.
Step-by-step explanation:
Neonatal ventilation bags are much smaller than adult ventilation bags. This size difference is necessary because neonates (newborns) have much smaller lung capacities and require less volume of air with each breath. An adult ventilation bag typically holds about 1 to 1.5 liters of air, which is too large for a neonate, as they require a bag size of about 240 to 500 milliliters depending on their weight and gestational age.
The Douglas bag method mentioned in the reference provided is a technique used for measuring respiratory gases and is not directly related to the sizes of neonatal or adult ventilation bags. This method involves a larger canvas or plastic bag used to collect expired air from an individual breathing through a mouthpiece, facilitating the analysis of oxygen and carbon dioxide levels during various levels of physical activity.