What action is indicated for a pediatric patient experiencing respiratory failure?

For a pediatric patient experiencing respiratory failure, providing 1 ventilation every 2 to 3 seconds is the correct action because respiratory failure means that the child is unable to adequately exchange gases, leading to hypoxemia or hypercapnia. In this scenario, the priority is to ensure that the child receives adequate ventilation to restore proper oxygenation and carbon dioxide elimination.

In this context, delivering ventilations at a rate of 1 every 2 to 3 seconds aligns with guidelines for pediatric patients, which emphasize the importance of providing adequate breaths to support their breathing during respiratory distress. This technique ensures that the child receives enough air to sustain life until further medical assistance can be rendered.

Other options like starting chest compressions or performing abdominal thrusts are indicated for different medical emergencies. Chest compressions are specifically used in cases of cardiac arrest and are not appropriate for respiratory failure alone. Similarly, abdominal thrusts are utilized in cases of severe choking, where an airway obstruction needs to be cleared, which is not the scenario when the child is simply in respiratory failure. Encouraging the patient to breathe deeply would not be effective in this acute condition, as the child is unable to breathe adequately on their own.