When someone has a pulse but isn't breathing on their own, you need to step in and do it for them. This is called rescue breathing. The rhythm is crucial: you'll deliver one steady breath every 6 seconds for an adult. For a child or infant, the pace is a bit faster—one breath every 2-3 seconds. The goal is to see their chest gently rise with each breath you give.

Your First Moves in a Breathing Emergency

When someone stops breathing, every second is critical. Knowing how to perform rescue breathing is an incredible skill, but what you do in that first minute can make all the difference.

First things first: safety. Before you rush in, take a quick scan of your surroundings. Is there traffic? A fire? Downed power lines? You can't help anyone if you become a victim yourself. Only move forward once you know the scene is safe for everyone.

Next, you need to see if the person is responsive. Give their shoulder a firm tap and shout, "Are you okay?" If you get no answer, it's time to get help on the way, fast.

• If you're by yourself: Call 911 immediately. Put your phone on speaker so you can talk to the dispatcher while starting to help the person.
• If there are other people around: Don't just yell for help. Point directly at one person and give a clear command: "You, in the blue shirt, call 911 right now and come back!" This direct approach cuts through the "bystander effect," where people freeze, assuming someone else will take charge.

The Look, Listen, and Feel Check

With professional help en route, your next job is to figure out if they're breathing. Kneel down beside the person and use the "look, listen, and feel" technique. This whole check shouldn't take more than 10 seconds.

Get your ear close to their mouth and nose, and turn your head to watch their chest. Look for the chest rising and falling. Listen for any sounds of air moving. Feel for their breath against your cheek.

It's important to know that gasping isn't breathing. If you see or hear strange, irregular gasps or snorts (known as agonal breathing), that's a major red flag for cardiac arrest, not normal breathing.

The idea of breathing for someone else has a surprisingly long history. It was practiced centuries ago, then fell out of fashion before being rediscovered in the 1950s by an anesthesiologist named James Elam. His research proved it worked and helped build the foundation for the modern CPR protocols we use today. You can actually explore more about the history of CPR and see just how far these life-saving techniques have come.

Performing Rescue Breathing on an Adult

When you find an adult with a pulse who isn't breathing, your actions are their lifeline. This isn't just about going through the motions; it's about getting oxygen to their brain and vital organs to keep them going until professional help arrives. Let's walk through exactly what you need to do.

Position the Person for Success

First things first, get the person on their back on a firm, flat surface. A soft couch or bed will just absorb the force of any potential compressions, so moving them to the floor is almost always the right call. Kneel down right next to their head and shoulders so you're in a stable, ready position.

Getting the positioning right from the start is the foundation for everything else. It’s what allows you to open their airway effectively and deliver breaths that actually make it to the lungs.

Open the Airway with the Head-Tilt, Chin-Lift

When someone is unconscious, their tongue is often the biggest culprit blocking the airway. The head-tilt, chin-lift is a simple but incredibly effective technique to clear that path.

1. Place the palm of one hand on their forehead and gently tilt the head back.
2. Use the fingertips of your other hand to lift their chin upward. This simple motion is designed to pull the tongue away from the back of the throat, opening it up for air.

You're aiming for gentle but firm pressure. The goal isn't to hyperextend their neck, just to create that clear passage for air.

This single maneuver can be the difference between a successful rescue breath and one that doesn't reach the lungs. It’s a foundational skill for both rescue breathing and full CPR.

Deliver the Rescue Breaths

Once the airway is open, you’re ready to give the breaths. Here's how to do it correctly:

• Pinch the nose shut. This is a crucial step to make sure the air you give doesn't just escape right back out through their nose.
• Create a seal. Take a normal breath (not a huge gasp) and place your mouth completely over theirs to form a tight seal.
• Give one steady breath. Breathe into their mouth for about one full second. The only feedback you need is to see their chest gently rise. That's it. A big, forceful breath isn't necessary and can even be harmful.
• Watch the chest fall. After the breath goes in, pull back and watch their chest fall. This confirms the air went in and is coming out.

Rhythm is key here. For an adult, you need to deliver one rescue breath every 6 seconds. I find it helpful to count out loud to keep pace: "one-one-thousand, two-one-thousand..." and so on. Keep this up until the person starts breathing on their own, another rescuer takes over, or the situation changes.

What If the Chest Doesn't Rise?

If you give a breath and the chest doesn't move, don't panic. It most likely means the airway is still blocked. The first thing you should do is reposition their head.

Perform the head-tilt, chin-lift again to make sure the airway is as open as possible, and then try another breath. If it still doesn't go in, the person might be choking. At this point, your response has to shift from just rescue breathing to choking relief or even full CPR with chest compressions. Knowing the complete CPR steps for adults is vital, as it prepares you to adapt when things don't go as planned.

How To Adjust Rescue Breathing For Children And Infants

When the person in need is a child or infant, the core idea of rescue breathing is the same, but your technique needs to be much more gentle and precise. Their smaller bodies and delicate airways require specific adjustments to be effective without causing harm. It’s all about applying the right kind of care for their size.

For children—generally considered to be between ages 1 and puberty—the steps are a scaled-down version of what you'd do for an adult. A key difference is the head-tilt; a full hyperextension that works on an adult can easily block a child's smaller airway.

Key Modifications For A Child

As you get ready to give breaths, your mantra should be "gentle." You'll still pinch the nose and make a seal over their mouth, but the breaths themselves need to be softer.

• Gentler Breaths: Use just enough air to see the chest visibly rise. An adult-sized breath is far too powerful for their smaller lungs.
• Faster Rhythm: The pace picks up a bit. You’ll give one breath every 2 to 3 seconds, which is quicker than the adult rate of one breath every 6 seconds.
• Hand Placement for CPR: If you need to start CPR, you'll typically use just one hand for chest compressions, not two.

It’s worth remembering that the most common reason for cardiac arrest in kids is a respiratory problem, like choking or a severe asthma attack. This makes quick and correct rescue breathing even more vital for them compared to adults, whose issues are often heart-related.

The Delicate Approach For Infants

An infant (anyone under 1 year old) needs an even more specialized approach. Their bodies are incredibly fragile, and a forceful technique can do more harm than good. Precision and gentleness are everything here.

The biggest change is how you open the airway. Instead of tilting the head back, you want to keep it in a neutral position—sometimes called the "sniffing" position. Think of a straight line running from their chin down. Tilting an infant's head back too far will almost certainly block their airway.

This image shows the quick check you perform before starting any breaths.

When it's time to give breaths to an infant, your technique changes completely:

• Cover Both Nose and Mouth: Your mouth goes over the infant’s nose and mouth at the same time to create a good seal. Their faces are just too small to do one at a time.
• Use Puffs of Air: Don't breathe into them; puff. Use only the air in your cheeks to give small, gentle puffs—just enough to see their chest rise slightly.
• Keep the Rhythm: Just like with a child, the pace is one puff every 2 to 3 seconds.

To make these differences crystal clear, here’s a quick-reference table to help you remember the right technique for each age group.

Rescue Breathing Techniques Adult vs. Child vs. Infant

These subtle but critical differences are what make rescue breathing safe and effective. For a more detailed walkthrough of infant emergencies, our complete guide to CPR for infants offers step-by-step instructions and visuals to help build your confidence. These are simple skills to learn, but they can make all the difference when it matters most.

Knowing When to Stop or Switch to CPR

Knowing how to perform rescue breathing is an essential skill, but it’s just as critical to know when to stop or change what you’re doing. Your actions are a vital bridge until professional medical help arrives. Understanding when to stop, switch to CPR, or let someone else take over removes the guesswork and helps you manage the emergency with confidence.

Think of it as having clear exit points so you always know the next right move.

There are a few clear-cut signals that tell you it’s time to stop giving rescue breaths. You should only stop if one of these things happens:

• The person starts breathing on their own. If you see their chest rising and falling rhythmically without your help, they no longer need rescue breaths. This is the best-case scenario.
• A trained professional takes over. When paramedics, EMTs, or other responders arrive and tell you they’re taking over, your job is done. Let them lead.
• The scene becomes unsafe. Your safety comes first. If a new hazard appears—like a fire, dangerous traffic, or a collapsing structure—you have to get yourself to safety.
• You're too exhausted to continue. This is a real possibility. Responding to an emergency is draining, both physically and emotionally. If you can no longer perform the steps effectively, you have to stop.

Transitioning to Full CPR

The single most important transition you need to be ready for is switching from rescue breathing to full CPR. Remember, rescue breathing is only for someone who has a pulse but isn't breathing. If that pulse vanishes, the situation has just escalated to cardiac arrest.

You should quickly re-check for a pulse about every two minutes. If you can’t find one anymore, you must immediately begin chest compressions. The problem is no longer just about breathing; it’s now a circulation crisis.

The heart has stopped pumping blood, and your compressions are needed to do that job manually. Don’t hesitate for a second—making that switch to compressions is the most important thing you can do to give them a chance at survival.

Modern CPR training has come a long way in preparing people for these exact moments. Innovations like the Resusci-Annie manikin, first developed back in the 1960s, gave trainees realistic feedback on their technique, which dramatically improved how well people learned. As medical guidelines have evolved over the decades, the focus remains on equipping everyday people like you to adapt as the situation changes. Knowing how to adapt is a core part of being a first responder, and understanding how to get CPR certified is the best way to prepare yourself for these critical decisions.

Why Hands-On Training Is Non-Negotiable

Reading an article like this is a fantastic first step. Seriously, it gets you thinking and learning the concepts. But when it comes to actually performing rescue breathing, nothing can replace real, hands-on practice.

In the middle of an emergency, with adrenaline pumping through your veins, you won't have time to second-guess yourself. You'll simply fall back on what your body knows how to do. That's where muscle memory comes in, and it's something you can only build through practice.

This is why formal certification is your most powerful tool. It’s not about getting a piece of paper; it’s about building the instinctive, automatic responses that allow you to act effectively when it matters most.

Bridging Knowledge and Action

Think of it like learning to drive a car. You can read the driver's manual from cover to cover, but you wouldn't feel ready for the highway without ever getting behind the wheel, right? The same is absolutely true for rescue breathing.

An in-person course lets you feel the right amount of pressure for a head-tilt, gauge the correct volume for a breath, and get a sense of the proper rhythm. These are crucial nuances that a screen just can't teach.

You’ll get to practice on manikins designed to mimic the human body, giving you a realistic feel for what it actually takes to make the chest rise. This is what turns theoretical knowledge into a genuine, life-saving skill.

Building Real-World Confidence

A certified instructor doesn’t just walk you through the steps; they prepare you for the chaos and the unexpected. What do you do if the person vomits? How do you manage a frantic scene with bystanders yelling? These are real-world problems an article can't fully prepare you for.

In a training environment, you get to ask those "what if" questions and work through different scenarios in a safe, controlled setting. This is how you build the confidence to act decisively, rather than freezing under pressure.

Sadly, there's a huge gap in community readiness. The global prevalence of CPR training averages around 40%, and in many parts of the world, that number is much, much lower. This means most people don't have formal training, highlighting a massive need for more public education. You can read the full research about CPR training prevalence to understand the global challenge we're facing.

Taking the next step to get certified is easier than you might think. A good course will solidify everything you've learned here and give you the practical skills needed to be a truly prepared rescuer. Our guide on how to become CPR certified breaks down the whole process, making it simple to find a class and get started.

Common Questions About Rescue Breathing

Even with the best training, it's totally normal to have those "what if" questions pop into your head. When things get stressful, uncertainty can make you hesitate, and that's the last thing you want in an emergency.

Let's clear up some of the most common concerns. Think of this as the final piece of your mental prep work, so you feel ready to act with confidence when someone truly needs you.

What if I'm Scared of Doing it Wrong?

This is, without a doubt, the number one fear I hear from students, and it's completely understandable. Here's the most important thing to burn into your memory: any attempt at rescue breathing is better than doing nothing at all.

The person isn't breathing. The alternative is zero oxygen. Your goal isn't textbook perfection; it's to intervene. Even if your technique feels a little clumsy, you are still delivering life-sustaining oxygen to their brain and vital organs. Trust what you've learned, focus on the basics of opening that airway and giving slow, steady breaths. You're giving them their best shot.

Can I Get a Disease from Mouth-to-Mouth?

The risk of catching something from rescue breathing is incredibly low, but it's a valid worry that stops a lot of good people from stepping in. The best way to protect yourself is to use a barrier device.

A CPR pocket mask or a face shield is a great tool to have. They create a physical barrier and have a one-way valve that lets your air go in but stops any of their saliva or bodily fluids from coming back out. You'll find them in most first aid kits, and they're small enough to toss in your car's glove box or a backpack.

What if the Person Vomits?

It happens, and you just need to deal with it quickly. If the person vomits while you're giving breaths, your first job is to clear their airway immediately.

Roll the person onto their side, facing you. Gravity is your friend here—it will help the vomit drain out of their mouth instead of going back down into their lungs. Once their mouth is clear, gently roll them back onto their back and pick up where you left off with rescue breathing.

How Long Should I Continue Rescue Breathing?

You keep going until one of five things happens. Don't stop unless:

• The person starts breathing on their own.
• A trained first responder (like a paramedic) arrives and tells you they're taking over.
• The scene becomes unsafe for you to be there.
• You are physically too exhausted to continue effectively.
• You check for a pulse and can't find one, at which point you must switch immediately to full CPR.

Thinking through these scenarios now helps remove the mental roadblocks that could slow you down in a real crisis. If you have more questions, our detailed FAQs page is a great resource to keep building your knowledge. A huge part of being prepared is having already worked through these "what ifs" long before they happen.

At Ready Response LLC, we believe that hands-on training is the best way to build the confidence you need to act decisively in an emergency. Our expert-led courses turn knowledge into life-saving skills. Find a class near you and become the person who knows what to do when it matters most by visiting https://readyresponsepa.com.