Final answer:
The goal of ventilation in child BLS is to ensure effective breathing mirroring the child's age-appropriate respiratory rate, which decreases as they grow, and is vital for preventing carbon dioxide buildup in the alveoli.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ventilation goal for a child in Basic Life Support (BLS) is to maintain adequate breathing by providing effective rescue breaths that lead to visible chest rise. This mirrors the normal respiratory rate, which decreases from birth to adolescence. For a child under 1 year of age, the target ventilation rate is between 30 and 60 breaths per minute. As children grow older, the rate decreases. By around 10 years of age, the appropriate rate is about 18 to 30 breaths per minute, aligning closer to adult breathing patterns in adolescence (12 to 18 breaths per minute).
When performing BLS on children, it is essential to consider these age-dependent rates and ensure that alveolar ventilation is sufficient to prevent carbon dioxide buildup. This may involve balancing a higher respiratory rate with smaller tidal volumes. In emergency situations, tools like a balloon may be used to mechanically assist respiration and provide the necessary air pressure to achieve proper ventilation.