How to Assess Breathing

An important skill to have when dealing with a medical emergency is being able to assess whether or not someone is breathing. If someone is not breathing, they are at risk for developing brain damage from a lack of oxygen or even death. Determining whether a victim is breathing can help save a life and allow for proper aid to take place.

Instructions

• 1

  When you notice that someone is not breathing, call for medical help. Stay on the phone with the dispatcher until help arrives. While you are waiting, situate yourself so that you have your ear near the victim's nose and mouth and your eyes looking towards their chest. Remove any heavy coats or garments that prevent you from seeing their chest rise and fall.

• 2

  Listen for shallow breathing. If the victim is breathing, you may be able to hear them or feel their breath on your ear.

• 3

  Watch the victim's chest to check whether it is rising and falling. If the chest is not moving and no breath is felt, clear the victim's air pipe, if necessary. Then administer CPR and call 911.

• 4

  If the chest is rising and falling, calculate the breaths per minute (BPM) rate by watching the chest rise and fall for 15 seconds, then multiply the total by four.

  A BPM of over 25 or less than 12, for an adult, is considered abnormal. If the BPM is abnormal, seek professional medical attention as soon as possible by calling 911 or going to the nearest hospital emergency department.

  The normal BPM for an adult is 15--20. For newborns, it is an average of 44. For infants, the normal BPM is 20--40. For toddlers, 20--30. For older children and teens, the normal BPM is 16--25. The differences in BPM reflect the capacity of the lungs to take in air.