What is a sign of effective rescue breaths?

Effective rescue breaths are indicated when the chest of the person receiving assistance rises and falls with each breath that is given. This visual cue indicates that the breaths are being delivered properly and that air is effectively entering the lungs. When administering rescue breaths, you aim to provide enough force for the air to fill the lungs, which is evident through the observable movement of the chest.

Observing the chest rise and fall is crucial as it shows that the airway is open and that the breaths are making it into the lungs, which is essential for providing oxygen to the body during a cardiac arrest or respiratory emergency. If the chest does not rise, it might signify that the airway is obstructed or that the breaths are not being delivered effectively, which would necessitate corrective actions.

Coughing or regaining consciousness may be signs that the person is starting to recover, but these are not immediate indicators of the effectiveness of the rescue breaths themselves. Similarly, the heart starting to beat normally could occur as a result of effective breaths, but it is not a direct sign of their effectiveness. The immediate and observable confirmation of proper breath delivery is the rising and falling of the chest.