How much air should be used when giving ventilations to an infant?

When providing ventilations to an infant, the goal is to deliver just enough air to make the chest rise visibly without over-inflating the lungs. The correct answer reflects that you should use a small amount of air, akin to the volume it takes to fill your cheeks, which aligns with the gentle approach required for infants due to their smaller lung capacity and the delicacy of their physiological structures.

The rationale for this technique focuses on minimizing the risk of injury and ensuring effective ventilation. When using too much air, as would be the case with a regular adult breath, there is a high likelihood of causing damage to the infant's lungs or forcing air into the stomach, which can lead to further complications such as aspiration. Taking a more moderate approach, similar to a child's breath, is also not quite as gentle as the correct method of just filling your cheeks, as children still have larger lung capacities than infants. The ideal technique encourages a careful understanding of the specific requirements for ventilation in this vulnerable age group, emphasizing the need for caution and precision.