Rescue Breathing
Definition: Giving artificial breaths to someone whose heart is still beating but who is not breathing on their own. Rescue breathing is a skill performed by trained Basic Life Support (BLS) providers like paramedics, nurses, and lifeguards. Under current AHA 2025 lay rescuer guidelines, parents and bystanders who find someone unresponsive should start CPR rather than performing rescue breathing alone.
Parent Tip: If you find your child unresponsive and they are not breathing normally or are only gasping, do not stop to check for a pulse and do not try to do rescue breathing on its own. Start CPR right away (30 chest compressions followed by 2 rescue breaths) and call 911. Pulse checks and standalone rescue breathing are now reserved for trained BLS level rescuers because too many lay rescuers lost critical time trying to decide whether the child needed compressions or breaths. The safer path for parents is simple: if there are no signs of life, start CPR.
Rescue Breath Technique (As Part of CPR)
- Tilt the head back gently to open the airway (less tilt for infants, more for adults)
- For infants, cover the nose and mouth with your mouth
- For children and adults, pinch the nose closed and cover the mouth with yours
- Give a steady breath lasting about 1 second, just enough to make the chest rise visibly
- If the chest does not rise, re-tilt the head and try again
- Give 2 breaths after every 30 compressions
Why It Matters: The AHA simplified lay rescuer guidance for a reason: when parents try to remember whether to do breaths only, compressions only, or both, valuable seconds are lost. The current rule is simple. If your child has no signs of life, start CPR. The compressions move oxygen rich blood that is already in the body, and the rescue breaths inside the 30:2 cycle refresh that oxygen. Together they keep the brain and heart alive until paramedics arrive. Hands on training is the best way to feel confident, since muscle memory carries you through the moment.
Related Terms: AED, Airway, Chest Thrusts, CPR, Pulse Check, Recovery Position, Unconsciousness
Written and reviewed by Jeremy Manke, Firefighter / Paramedic (22 years of emergency service)