When providing assisted ventilation, which of the following is true?

When providing assisted ventilation, it is crucial to keep the rescue breaths slow and steady. This approach is essential because delivering breaths too quickly can lead to complications such as hyperventilation, which may cause elevated pressure in the chest and reduce blood return to the heart. Slow and steady breaths allow for adequate time for the patient's lungs to inflate fully and ensure sufficient exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide, which is vital during resuscitation efforts.

The other options may not provide the same level of effectiveness in maintaining proper ventilation. For example, maintaining a rhythm of breaths to pulses is more applicable in certain advanced settings and is not a primary focus during basic life support. A one-way valve system is beneficial in preventing cross-contamination but may not be necessary or practical in all scenarios. Counting breaths aloud could distract the rescuer and complicate the process, causing interruptions in the rhythm of care. Therefore, prioritizing a slow and steady delivery of breaths is key to successful assisted ventilation.