When delivering BVM ventilations, how long should each breath last?

When delivering Bag-Valve-Mask (BVM) ventilations, each breath should last about 1 second. This duration is essential because it allows sufficient time for air to flow into the lungs while preventing potential complications such as over-inflation. If breath delivery is too rapid or lasts too briefly, it may not provide adequate oxygenation, which can lead to inadequate ventilation and potentially worsen the patient's condition.

Delivering breaths over a period of 1 second also allows for an appropriate pause between breaths to assess the patient's chest rise and ensure effective ventilation. This method aligns with the guidelines for providing positive pressure ventilations, ensuring that rescue breaths are effective in restoring adequate oxygen levels in the bloodstream.

Other durations, such as 0.5 seconds, may not allow enough time for proper lung inflation, while longer durations like 2 or 3 seconds could lead to over-inflation or prolong the time between breaths, which can decrease the overall effectiveness of the resuscitation effort. Hence, timing each breath at about 1 second strikes the right balance for optimizing patient care.