What does ‘rescue breathing’ entail?

Rescue breathing is a crucial component of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) used when a person has stopped breathing but still has a heartbeat. The correct practice involves delivering rescue breaths at a controlled rate to provide oxygen to the individual. Specifically, giving 1 breath every 5 seconds allows for adequate oxygenation while minimizing the risk of over-inflation of the lungs. This pace balances the need to provide air with the body’s natural ventilation processes, making it effective for resuscitating a person in respiratory distress.

In contrast, performing chest compressions only does not address the need for oxygen delivery to the lungs, which is critical in non-breathing victims. Providing continuous air without pause could lead to complications, such as over-inflating the lungs, which can cause damage. Alternating breaths and compressions every second is not a standard practice and does not align with established rescue breathing protocols, thereby disrupting the effectiveness of the intervention.