Rescue Breathing

Respiratory complications are the common precursors of cardiac arrest. It is, therefore, crucial to detect problems in respiration in order to take action against cardiac arrest.

When a patient of any age has a pulse but is not breathing (or is not breathing comfortably and normally), quickly open the airway using the head-tilt/chin-lift maneuver and start releasing breaths. See Table2 for details about rescue breathing.

Age Group How Often Breaths per Minute Duration Evaluation
Adult Every 6 seconds 10 to 12 breaths per minute Each breath should last one second Check for chest rise and breathing;
Check pulse and begin CPR if necessary
Child/Infant One rescuer: Every 6 seconds
Two rescuers: Every 2-3 seconds
One rescuer: 10 to 12 breaths per minute
Two rescuers: 20 to 30 breaths per minute

Table 2

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