Basic Life Support (BLS) Renewal Practice Exam

During rescue breathing, the focus is on providing breaths to an unresponsive victim to supply oxygen, which is crucial for maintaining oxygenation until more advanced care can be delivered. This technique is typically employed when a person is not breathing adequately or at all, and it is a vital component of the basic life support sequence when advanced airway management is not available.

Rescue breathing involves creating a seal over the victim's mouth, tilting the head back to open the airway, and delivering breaths until you can see the chest rise. This action is aimed at delivering oxygen directly into the lungs of the victim, which is critical in maintaining vital organ function and preventing brain damage due to lack of oxygen.

The other options focus on different aspects of emergency care, such as performing chest compressions, which is essential when there is also a lack of circulation; administering medication, which is beyond the scope of basic life support; and assessing the scene for safety, which is an important first step but does not involve the act of rescue breathing itself.