Rescue Breathing (Mouth-to -Mouth Breathing) 557
Rescue Breathing
(Mouth-to-Mouth Breathing)
A person can die within 4 minutes if she does not breathe. If a person stops
breathing for any reason, begin mouth-to-mouth breathing right away! If the
person swallowed chemicals, mouth-to-mouth breathing can also expose you to
the chemical, so before you start mouth-to-mouth breathing, cover
your mouth with a pocket mask, or a piece of cloth or thick
plastic wrap with a hole cut in the middle.
Step 1: Quickly use a finger to remove anything stuck in the
mouth or throat.
Step 2: Quickly but gently lay the person
face up. Gently tilt his head back
and pull his jaw forward.
Step 3: Pinch his nostrils closed with your fingers,
open his mouth, cover his mouth with yours, and
blow strongly into his lungs so that his chest rises.
Pause to let air come back out and blow again.
Repeat about every 5 seconds. With babies and
small children, cover both the nose and mouth
with your mouth, and breathe very gently about once every
3 seconds.
Continue rescue breathing until the person
can breathe by himself, or until there is
no doubt he is dead. Sometimes you must
keep trying for an hour or more.
Note: Unless there is an open sore or
bleeding in the mouth, it is not possible to
give or get HIV or hepatitis from mouth-to-
mouth breathing.
A Community Guide to Environmental Health 2012