High-quality CPR improves the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest emergency. But many people are confused whether rescue breaths are necessary during CPR.
The simplest way to combat confusing messaging about rescue breaths is as follows:
- For certified lay providers, rescue breaths are a critical component of performing CPR. As Instructors, conventional CPR should always be taught with rescue breaths to increase the chance of survival.
- For the untrained lay provider, the option to perform compression-only CPR helps to eliminate hesitation or unwillingness to provide care. This also applies to a bystander who has limited personal protective equipment (PPE) or is unwilling to provide rescue breaths out of fear the person may have an infectious disease.
Check out the HSI Emergency Care blog for more information about conventional CPR versus compression-only CPR.
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