A 5-year-old child is unconscious with a respiratory rate of 8 breaths/min. What management should be performed?

The appropriate management for a 5-year-old child who is unconscious and has a very low respiratory rate, such as 8 breaths per minute, involves ensuring that adequate ventilation is provided to support respiration. In cases where a child is unconscious and not breathing effectively, positive pressure ventilation is necessary to ensure that oxygen is delivered to the lungs and carbon dioxide is expelled.

Using a bag-valve-mask (BVM) device allows for positive pressure ventilation, which is crucial in this scenario. The child's low respiratory rate indicates a potentially life-threatening condition, and rapid transport to a medical facility is also a critical component of care in case further interventions are needed.

Providing 100% oxygen via a nonrebreathing mask alone would not be sufficient if the child is not breathing adequately, as oxygen delivery without adequate ventilation does not effectively manage respiratory failure. Similarly, administering chest compressions is not indicated unless there is a clear indication of a cardiac arrest. Additionally, back blows and chest thrusts are techniques reserved for cases of choking, which does not apply here given the child's state of unconsciousness.

Therefore, positive pressure ventilation with a BVM device is the most effective way to ensure that the child receives the necessary oxygenation and ventilation while preparing for rapid transport