Breathing for the adult

If you are trained in CPR, do rescue breathing after opening the airway using the head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver. Rescue breathing can be mouth-to-mouth breathing or mouth-to-nose breathing if the mouth area is hurt or can't be opened. The American Heart Association recommends that trained professionals do rescue breathing using a bag-mask device with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.

Follow these steps to do rescue breathing, after opening the airway.

1. Pinch the person's nose openings closed, then place your mouth over the person's mouth so no air can get out. This creates a seal for mouth-to-mouth breathing.
2. Prepare to give two rescue breaths. Give the first rescue breath for one second and look to see whether the chest rises.
3. If the chest rises, give a second breath.
4. If the chest doesn't rise, open the airway again. Then do rescue breathing again. If this second breath still doesn't work, start chest compressions again right away. Do 30 chest compressions followed by two rescue breaths. Repeat this pattern of 30 compressions to two rescue breaths as needed to help keep blood moving through the body. You don't need to give more than two breaths every 30 compressions. Be careful not to give too many breaths or to breathe with too much force.
5. As soon as you get an AED, turn it on and follow its directions. The machine tells you when to give a shock. Typically, you give one shock, then keep doing chest compressions for about two more minutes. Then the machine checks the heartbeat again and tells you whether to give a second shock. If you don't know how to use an AED, a 911 operator or another emergency medical person may be able to tell you how to use the machine. If you don't have an AED, go to step 6.
6. Continue chest compressions until there are signs of movement or emergency medical help takes over.