How can you identify if rescue breaths are effective?

To determine if rescue breaths are effective, observing the chest rise is a primary indicator. When you deliver a rescue breath, the goal is to provide enough air to inflate the lungs, which will cause the chest to visibly rise and fall. This mechanism shows that air is entering the lungs and that the breaths are being delivered correctly.

If the chest does not rise, it may indicate that there is a blockage in the airway or that the breaths are not being delivered with enough force or technique. While other signs, such as the person beginning to cough or a change in skin color, may also provide some indication of breathing effectiveness or airway patency, the clear and immediate visual cue of chest rise is the most direct way to confirm that the breaths are functioning as intended. The person responding verbally typically indicates recovery or improved condition, which may occur later in the rescue process but is not the initial measure of breath effectiveness.