Mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, also known as rescue breathing, is an emergency life-saving technique that provides artificial ventilation by a rescuer blowing air into a victim’s lungs. It delivers oxygen when natural breathing has ceased or become insufficient.
The Purpose of Mouth-to-Mouth Ventilation
The primary purpose of mouth-to-mouth ventilation is to supply oxygen to a person’s lungs when they are unable to breathe adequately. Oxygen deprivation can rapidly lead to organ damage, especially in the brain and heart. By delivering breaths, this technique helps maintain necessary oxygen levels in the bloodstream and facilitates carbon dioxide removal. The air exhaled by a rescuer still contains approximately 16% to 17% oxygen, sufficient to sustain life.
Identifying When to Use Mouth-to-Mouth
Mouth-to-mouth ventilation is indicated when a person is unresponsive and not breathing normally, or is only gasping for air. This technique is specifically relevant in situations where an individual still has a pulse but is not breathing effectively on their own. Such scenarios often include emergencies like drowning, drug overdoses, or severe asthma attacks.
Steps for Performing Mouth-to-Mouth
Before providing assistance, ensure the immediate area is safe for both the victim and the rescuer. Position the person on their back on a firm, flat surface. To open the airway, gently tilt their head back by placing one hand on their forehead and lift their chin with the other hand. Quickly check for breathing by looking for chest movement, listening for breath sounds, and feeling for air on your cheek.
If the person is not breathing, pinch their nostrils closed with your thumb and forefinger. Take a normal breath and then create a tight seal with your mouth completely over the person’s mouth. Deliver a steady breath into their mouth for about one second, watching for their chest to visibly rise. Allow the chest to fall as air escapes, then deliver a second breath in the same manner. Avoid blowing too forcefully or too rapidly, as this can cause air to enter the stomach.
Mouth-to-Mouth in Current Resuscitation Guidelines
Current emergency response protocols emphasize the balance between chest compressions and rescue breaths. For most adults experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is now recommended for untrained bystanders. This shift aims to encourage more people to act, reducing hesitation often associated with mouth-to-mouth contact and fear of disease transmission.
Despite this, mouth-to-mouth ventilation remains an important component in specific situations and for trained rescuers. It is particularly recommended for infants and children, as their cardiac arrests are more often respiratory in origin. It is also necessary in cases where oxygen deprivation is the primary issue, such as drowning, drug overdose, or severe asthma attacks. Trained individuals combine mouth-to-mouth with chest compressions, often in a ratio of 30 compressions to two breaths.