What chest compression-to-ventilation ratio is used for two-rescuer pediatric CPR?

• A. Twenty compressions followed by two breaths
• B. Fifteen chest compressions, two breaths
• C. Thirty chest compressions, two breaths
• D. Fifteen compressions, two breaths (alternate wording)

Answer: (D)

In two-rescuer pediatric CPR, the rhythm is fifteen compressions followed by two breaths. This ratio reflects how pediatric cardiac arrests are often driven by respiratory failure, so delivering breaths is crucial alongside chest compressions. With two rescuers, you can maintain effective ventilation while still providing high-quality compressions, cycling through 15 compressions before giving two breaths and repeating. This contrasts with adults (30:2) and with single-rescuer pediatric CPR, where the balance favors more compressions before breaths. The key is the 15:2 pattern, and wording that expresses that same ratio (fifteen compressions, two breaths) conveys the correct approach.