Normal breathing is essential to maintaining life. A person who is gasping or breathing abnormally and are unresponsive require resuscitation.
Breathing may be absent or ineffective as a result of:
There is a high incidence of abnormal gasping (agonal gasps) after cardiac arrest. All rescuers should use a combination of unresponsiveness and absent or abnormal breathing to identify the need for resuscitation.
The rescuer should maintain an airway and assess for normal breathing:
Movement of the lower chest and upper abdomen does not necessarily mean the person has a clear airway. Impairment or complete absence of breathing may develop before the person loses consciousness.
Normal Breathing Rates | ||
---|---|---|
Adults | 15 years and older | 12-20 breaths/min |
Older Child | 9-14 years | 15-20 breaths/min |
Younger Child | 1-8 years | 20-30 breaths/min |
Infant | 0-1 year | 30-40 breaths/min |