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How to Identify Rescue Breathing

Correctly performing rescue breathing is essential in any case where a person has stopped taking breaths, since a lack of oxygen can cause brain damage within minutes. Rescue breathing--which can be done by itself or as a component of CPR--is done when a victim is unconscious and cannot breathe on his own, but has a pulse. It is meant to be continued until emergency responders arrive.

Things You'll Need

  • First aid training
  • Latex gloves
  • Breathing mask
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Instructions

  1. How to Correctly Perform Rescue Breathing on an Adult

    • 1

      Be sure you need to perform rescue breathing. Check for a pulse and gently tap or nudge the person while loudly asking, "Are you okay?" If the person is unresponsive, the adult is unconscious and will need first aid. If there is a pulse, but the person is unresponsive, dial 911 or call emergency services before proceeding further.

    • 2

      Ascertain whether the adult is breathing. See if the chest is rising and falling normally. Put your ear a few inches above the person's mouth and nose to listen for any sounds of respiration. While positioned with your ear near the face, also determine if you feel air being exhaled through the nose or mouth. If you find that the adult is not breathing but has a pulse, you will need to begin artificial respiration.

    • 3

      Put the person in the proper position. If there are no obvious neck or back injuries, place the adult on his back on a flat, hard surface, making sure that no objects are underneath the body. Gently tilt the head back so that the chin is thrust up slightly. This will help open the airway and make the rescue breathing more effective. With your pointer finger, lightly swipe the inside of the mouth to clear it of any obstructions.

    • 4

      Pinch the nose shut and start to take a normal breath. Take a normal breath and inhale through your mouth, filling your cheeks with air, just as if you were preparing to blow up a balloon. This is the air you will blow into the other person's lungs to inflate them while conducting rescue breathing.

    • 5

      Start mouth-to-mouth respiration. While holding the nose shut, place your mouth over the victim's, creating a tight seal, and slowly exhale. Watch to make sure the chest is rising as the victim's lungs fill with air. If you encounter resistance, the breath is not entering the victim's airway. In this case, stop and re-tilt the head in order to open the air passageways. Every time you give a breath, pull away to let the air be expelled from the victim's lungs before administering another breath. The American Heart Association recommends one rescue breath every 5 seconds, for a total of 12 breaths per minute.

    • 6

      Continue to give rescue breaths until help comes. Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation manually circulates oxygen throughout the victim's body, reducing the chance of major brain damage and extending the window of time for emergency responders to arrive and transport the person to the hospital.

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