Paediatric respiratory arrest — DipIMC MCQ

Correct answer: C — Open the airway and provide effective ventilation with oxygen

Option C is correct because Paediatric respiratory arrest with a pulse can progress to cardiac arrest unless ventilation is restored immediately. Option A is less appropriate because oxygen may be supportive, but it does not address the defining time-critical problem first; option D is less appropriate because vascular access is useful, but it should not delay the immediate priority. Option E is less appropriate because it is plausible in a different scenario but suboptimal for the features described; option B is less appropriate because delay would increase clinical risk. Clinical pearl: in DipIMC-style questions, the best answer is the intervention that changes outcome earliest in the pre-hospital phase.

Reference: Resuscitation Council UK Guidelines