Why check for breathing when doing CPR?

Checking for breathing is vital during cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) for several reasons:

1. Determining the Need for CPR: Before starting CPR, it's crucial to determine whether the person is unresponsive and not breathing. Checking for breathing helps you assess if CPR is necessary.

2. Confirming Cardiac Arrest: If you identify that the person is unresponsive and not breathing, it's likely they are in cardiac arrest. This confirmation triggers the need to initiate CPR immediately to restore circulation and breathing.

3. Monitoring Effectiveness of CPR: During CPR, periodic breathing checks help you assess whether your compressions and rescue breaths are effective. If the person's chest is rising adequately during rescue breaths, it indicates proper ventilation. If not, you may need to adjust your technique.

4. Preventing Brain Damage: Promptly delivering CPR, especially initiating rescue breaths, helps supply oxygen to the brain. Prolonged lack of oxygen can cause irreversible brain damage, emphasizing the importance of checking breathing during CPR.

5. Ensuring Proper Ventilation: During CPR, you provide rescue breaths to deliver oxygen to the person's lungs, ensuring adequate gas exchange. Checking for breathing after each set of compressions allows you to determine if the breaths are effective in providing oxygenation.

6. Following the Sequence: CPR follows a specific sequence, which includes checking for responsiveness and breathing. It's essential to check breathing before proceeding to chest compressions.

7. Professionalism and Quality Assurance: Checking for breathing is a standard step in CPR protocols, demonstrating professionalism and a commitment to providing the highest quality of care to the person in distress.

Remember, quick recognition of cardiac arrest and prompt initiation of CPR can significantly improve the chances of a person's survival and reduce the risk of complications like brain damage. Regular training in CPR and proper technique, including correct breathing checks, is essential for effective life-saving interventions.