During rescue breaths, what should you check to confirm effective ventilation?

• A. Chest rise
• B. Pulse rate
• C. Breath color
• D. Skin temperature

Answer: (A)

When giving rescue breaths, the best indicator that ventilation is effective is to look for chest rise. If the chest lifts with each breath, air is entering the lungs and the airway is likely open. If there’s no visible chest rise, reassess the airway—reposition the head, check for an obstruction, and ensure you’re delivering breaths for about one second with enough volume. Other signs like pulse rate, breath color, or skin temperature don’t directly prove that air is reaching the lungs, so they aren’t reliable measures of ventilation effectiveness.