Check for absent or abnormal breathing by scanning the chest rise and fall for at least ____ seconds but no longer than ____ seconds.

Check for absent or abnormal breathing by scanning the chest rise and fall for at least ____ seconds but no longer than ____ seconds.

• A. 5 to 10 seconds
• B. 2 to 5 seconds
• C. 10 to 15 seconds
• D. 1 to 2 seconds

Answer: (A)

Breathing assessment should be quick and focused. You observe chest rise and fall for enough time to reliably detect breathing, but you don’t want to delay care. The standard window is five to ten seconds: at least five seconds to catch slower or irregular breaths, but no longer than ten seconds so you can start CPR promptly if breathing is absent or abnormal. If no steady breathing is seen within this window, begin CPR and call for help.

Breathing assessment should be quick and focused. You observe chest rise and fall for enough time to reliably detect breathing, but you don’t want to delay care. The standard window is five to ten seconds: at least five seconds to catch slower or irregular breaths, but no longer than ten seconds so you can start CPR promptly if breathing is absent or abnormal. If no steady breathing is seen within this window, begin CPR and call for help.