Rescue breaths 'Rescue breaths' is the new term for mouth-to-mouth-resuscitation. If a casualty isn't breathing on their own, you may have to give rescue breaths.

By breathing air into a casualty's lungs you introduce vital oxygen into their system.

This may be enough to get the casualty breathing again independently, but if it isn't you'll need to combine rescue breaths with chest compressions - cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Actions

• Place a hand on casualty's forehead and gently back tilt their head
• Look in their mouth and remove any obvious obstructions
• Place fingertips of your other hand under casualty's chin and lift gently
• Taking your hand from their forehead, pinch soft part of their nose
• Open their mouth and take a deep breath, filling your lungs with air
• Place your lips around casualty's mouth, ensuring a good seal
• Blow steadily, watching to see casualty's chest rise
• Keeping casualty's head tilted, remove your mouth and watch their chest fall

Further action

Repeat this once, to give two rescue breaths in total, and then check for signs of circulation by looking, listening and feeling for movement, breath or improved colour.

If there's no circulation, start resuscitation.

This article was reviewed by the British Red Cross in April 2007.