If the patient has a pulse but is not breathing, how often should rescue breaths be given and how often should you check the pulse?

If the patient has a pulse but is not breathing, how often should rescue breaths be given and how often should you check the pulse?

• A. 2 breaths every 10 seconds; check pulse every 5 minutes
• B. 1 breath every 6 seconds; check pulse every 2 minutes
• C. 1 breath every 2 seconds; check pulse every 1 minute
• D. 1 breath every 10 seconds; check pulse every 10 minutes

Answer: (B)

When a patient has a pulse but isn’t breathing, provide rescue breaths at a steady rate to maintain oxygen delivery. One breath every six seconds delivers about 10–12 breaths per minute, which is sufficient without causing overventilation. While you ventilate, reassess the patient periodically by checking the pulse every 2 minutes to detect any change—such as deterioration or return of circulation—and to know when you’d need to transition to chest compressions if the pulse disappears. The other schedules either ventilate too slowly or too quickly or check the pulse at improper intervals, which can hinder effective resuscitation.

When a patient has a pulse but isn’t breathing, provide rescue breaths at a steady rate to maintain oxygen delivery. One breath every six seconds delivers about 10–12 breaths per minute, which is sufficient without causing overventilation. While you ventilate, reassess the patient periodically by checking the pulse every 2 minutes to detect any change—such as deterioration or return of circulation—and to know when you’d need to transition to chest compressions if the pulse disappears. The other schedules either ventilate too slowly or too quickly or check the pulse at improper intervals, which can hinder effective resuscitation.